LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

Class 


SALVADOR   OF   THE   TWENTIETH 
CENTURY 


WORKS  BY 
PERCY  F.   MARTIN,   F.R.G.S. 


MEXICO    OF 
THE    TWENTIETH    CENTURY 

With  Map,  and  more  than  100  Illustrations.     2  Vols. 
Demy  8vo.     303.  net. 

"Will  take  its  place  as  a  standard  work  of  reference  on  the  country." 

PERU    OF 
THE  TWENTIETH   CENTURY 

With  Map,  and  43  Illustrations.     I  Vol.    155.  net. 

SALVADOR   OF 
THE   TWENTIETH    CENTURY 

With  Map,  and  48  Illustrations,     i  Vol.    155.  net. 


LONDON  :    EDWARD    ARNOLD 


"THE  COLOURS." 

THE  SALVADOREAN  FLAG,  SUPPORTED  BY  CADETS  OF  THE  SCHOOL  FOR  CORPORALS  AND 

SERGEANTS. 


SALVADOR 


OF  THE 


TWENTIETH    CENTURY 


BY 

PERCY  F.   MARTIN,  F.R.G.S. 

AUTHOR    OF 

:  THROUGH   FIVE  REPUBLICS   OF   SOUTH   AMERICA,"    "MEXICO   OF   THE  TWENTIETH 
CENTURY,"    "PBRU   OF  THE  TWENTIETH   CENTURY,"    ETC. 


NEW  YORK 
LONGMANS,    GREEN    &    CO. 

LONDON  :   EDWARD  ARNOLD 

1911 

[All  rights  reserved] 


PREFACE 

"  And  so  I  penned 
It  down,  until  at  last  it  came  to  be, 
For  length  and  breadth,  the  bigness  which  you  see." 

BuNYAtf  :  Apology  for  his  Book. 

WHILE  it  is  quite  reasonable  to  hope  for  a  consistent 
improvement  among  the  Central  American  nations,  and 
as  easy  to  discern  the  extent  of  amelioration  which  has 
already  occurred,  it  is  necessary  to  bear  in  mind  some 
of  the  causes  which  have  hitherto  conduced  to  the 
turbulence  and  the  tragedies  which  have  characterized 
government  by  some  of  these  smaller  Latin  Republics. 
Many  writers,  who  can  know  but  little  of  the 
Spanish  race,  have  attributed  the  early  failures  of  the 
States  which  broke  away  from  the  Motherland,  not 
only  to  lack  of  stability,  but  to  a  radical  psychological 
defect  in  the  national  character.  This  is  a  decided 
mistake,  for  the  Spanish  people,  both  in  their  indi- 
vidual and  in  their  collective  character,  are^  fully  as 
capable  of  exercising  the  rights,  and  of  enjoying 
rationally  the  benefits,  of  self-government  as  any 
other  nation  of  the  world.  The  patriots  and  heroes 
who  distinguished  themselves  in  the  early  days  of 
these  young  Republics,  while  themselves  descendants 
of  the  Spaniards,  generally  speaking,  and  having  only 
in  a  few  cases  Indian  blood  in  their  veins,  had  to  com- 
bat against  all  the  ambition  and  avarice,  all  the  pride 

V 

228538 


vi  PREFACE 

and  prejudices,  of  the  Church-ridden  land  which  had 
set  its  grip  upon  New  Spain,  and  meant,  if  possible,  to 
keep  it  there.  But  it  was  not  possible,  and  in  a  few 
decades  was  witnessed  their  complete  expulsion  as 
rulers  from  the  countries  which  had  been  won  by  the 
flower  of  Spain's  soldiery,  and  lost  by  the  exercise  of 
Spain's  oppression  and  greed. 

While  the  early  history  of  the  Latin  -  American 
Republics  contains  much  to  distress,  and  even  to 
depress,  the  reader,  it  is  impossible  to  avoid  paying 
a  tribute  to  the  band  of  gallant  men  who  fought  so 
desperately  in  the  cause  of  freedom,  and  eventually 
won  it.  It  is  not  just  to  say,  as  so  many  historians 
have  said,  that  the  highest  incentives  of  these  men  to 
action  were  the  favours  of  artificial  and  hereditary 
greatness,  with  the  accumulation,  by  whatsoever  means, 
of  that  wealth  by  which  such  favours  might  be  pur- 
chased. Undoubtedly  some  mercenary  motives  were 
at  work,  as  they  usually  are  in  political  upheavals  of 
this  nature.  Does  anyone  imagine,  for  instance,  during 
the  disturbances  which  occurred  in  Mexico  early  in  the 
present  year,  and  which  were  personally  assisted  by 
United  States  citizens,  that  low  mercenary  motives 
were  lacking  ?  Does  anyone  imagine  that  the  numerous 
North  American  filibusters  who  took  part  in  the 
fighting,  first  on  the  Texas  borders,  and  then  in 
Mexico  itself,  had  any  idea  of  assisting  a  persecuted 
people  to  free  themselves  from  the  yoke  of  a  tyrant  ? 
Or  was  it  not  the  glamour  of  golden  lucre  to  be  paid 
to  them,  and  the  promise  of  the  much -coveted  land 
across  the  Rio  Grande  del  Norte,  that  impelled  these 
young  Yankees  to  throw  in  their  lot  with  the  rebels, 
trusting  to  their  own  complacent  Government  at 
Washington  to  see  them  through — as  it  actually  did 


PREFACE  vii 

— any  trouble  which  might  happen  to  them  if  they 
proved  to  be  upon  the  losing  side  ? 

It  would  perhaps  be  equally  correct  to  describe  the 
early  Spanish  conquerors  as  greedy  adventurers,  since 
they  never  had  any  ideas  of  benefiting  the  countries 
or  the  people  whom  they  afflicted  so  sorely.  It  is 
true  that  they  encountered  fearful  dangers,  displayed 
unheard-of  bravery,  overturned  empires,  and  traversed 
with  bloody  steps  an  entire  continent ;  but  it  was  to 
aggrandize  the  Crown  of  Spain  and  to  fill  their  own 
empty  pockets  with  golden  spoil,  which,  once  secured, 
witnessed  the  fulfilment  of  their  ambitions. 

It  was,  moreover,  from  this  veritable  horde  of  greedy 
tyrants  that  in  later  days  the  peoples  of  these  nations 
sought  to  obtain,  and  finally  did  obtain,  their  freedom ; 
their  experiences  of  the  Spanish  Viceroys,  with  their 
courts  more  brilliant  and  more  corrupt  than  that  at 
Madrid  itself;  the  persecutions  of  the  Church,  which 
has  left  a  record  in  Latin- America  more  bloody  and 
more  barbarous  than  even  in  Europe ;  the  deafness 
shown  by  the  Spanish  Crown  whenever  an  appeal  for 
consideration  or  clemency  was  addressed  to  it — all 
these  things  conduced  to  that  upheaval  which  has 
taken  over  one  hundred  years  to  consummate  and 
fructify. 

It  was,  then,  against  all  this  that  the  people  of 
Central  America  were  called  upon  to  fight.  Can 
anyone  be  surprised  at  the  demoralization  which 
occurred  in  their  own  ranks  when  their  efforts  to 
secure  their  freedom  from  Spain  were  once  crowned 
with  success  ?  History  shows  many  other  such 
instances ;  indeed,  bad  as  is  the  record  of  the  earliest 
days  of  Latin- American  self-government,  it  by  no 
means  stands  without  parallel.  The  objects — beyond 


viii  PREFACE 

a  desire  to  be  free  from  the  brutal  tyranny  of  the 
Spanish  Viceroys  —  of  the  Latin  -  American  revolu- 
tionists were  never  very  clearly  defined  or  well  under- 
stood. Neither  was  any  preconceived  or  organized 
plan  ever  made  or  carried  out  in  connection  with  the 
French  Revolution. 

Some  historians  are  of  opinion  that  the  revolutionists 
of  Central  America  originally  contemplated  the  estab- 
lishment of  an  independent  Kingdom  or  Monarchy 
which  should  comprise  the  ancient  Vice- Royalty,  or, 
as  it  was  called,  the  "  Kingdom  of  Guatemala."  But 
there  is  little  evidence  that  any  such  notion  was 
generally  popular.  Among  the  body  of  office-seekers 
and  hangers-on  of  royal  Courts  it  may,  of  course,  have 
been  regarded  with  favour.  But  the  Provisional  Junta, 
which  was  convoked  immediately  after  the  separation 
from  Spain,  showed  a  great  majority  of  Liberals,  who, 
in  spite  of  the  pressure  brought  to  bear  upon  them, 
and  the  personal  danger  in  which  they  stood,  pro- 
ceeded boldly  to  administer  the  oath  of  absolute 
independence,  and  to  convoke  an  assembly  of  patriots 
which  should  organize  the  country  on  the  basis  of 
Republican  institutions.  The  effort  which  was  made 
later  on  through  French  machinations  to  establish  a 
monarchy  in  Mexico  failed  dismally,  as  had  the  previous 
efforts  put  forward  by  the  Mexicans  themselves,  when 
Iturbide  was  made — or,  to  be  more  correct,  made  him- 
self— Emperor  for  a  very  brief  period. 

The  people  of  Central  America  were  but  few  in 
number,  and  were  widely  distributed  over  the  face  of 
the  country.  It  took  several  weeks  to  get  into  com- 
munication with  some  of  the  outlying  districts,  and 
the  diffusion  of  the  newly-created  voters  prevented 
them  from  becoming  in  any  way  a  united  people,  or 


PREFACE 


IX 


even  cognizant  of  what  was  being  done  in  their  name. 
In  fact,  while  anxiously  awaiting  the  intelligence  that 
their  Junta  was  about  to  issue  the  long-looked-for 
Republican  Charter,  the  people  of  Salvador  received 
the  startling  and  disastrous  news  that  their  country 
was  to  be  incorporated  into  the  Mexican  Empire. 
They  had  been  basely  betrayed,  and  it  is  small  wonder 
that  they  stood  aghast  at  the  colossal  nature  of  that 
betrayal. 

Terrible  indeed  was  the  position  for  the  newly- 
arisen  Republic  of  Salvador.  The  men  whom  they 
had  sent  to  attend  the  Junta  at  Guatemala  City  were 
met  and  overawed  by  armed  bands  ;  their  deliberations 
were  forcibly  interrupted  and  suspended  ;  some  of  them, 
such  as  Bedoya,  Maida,  and  others,  were  ruthlessly 
assassinated,  while  their  own  leader  and  President  of 
the  Provisional  Junta,  one  Gainza,  turned  traitor  and 
went  over  to  the  enemy  under  promise  of  a  high  post 
in  the  new  royal  Government. 

Salvador  was  the  nearest  province  to  Guatemala, 
and  the  centre  of  Liberalism.  It  was  not  long  before 
the  patriots  of  this  country  took  up  arms  in  the  defence 
of  their  newly-acquired  freedom,  and  when  they  did 
theirs  was  practically  the  first  battle  which  was  fought 
upon  Central  American  territory  by  Central  Americans 
among  themselves.  Unfortunately,  it  was  by  no  means 
the  last ;  and  history  bristles  with  instances  of  terrible 
internecine  warfare — of  father  arrayed  against  son, 
brother  against  brother,  and  of  whole  families,  once 
united  in  bonds  of  love,  wrenched  asunder,  never  again 
to  be  reconciled  this  side  of  the  grave.  For  years 
following,  the  soil  of  this  beautiful  land  was  drenched 
with  human  blood,  its  energies  crippled,  its  resources 
abandoned.  Are  we  justified  in  supposing  that  the 


x  PREFACE 

end  has  come  ?     I  verily  believe  that,  if  it  has  not 
actually  arrived,  it  is  at  least  in  sight. 

It  must  be  remembered  that  the  people  of  Central 
America  are  no  longer  an  uneducated  and  unduly 
excitable  race,  except,  perhaps,  where  their  personal 
honour  and  independence  are  concerned ;  they  possess 
an  exceedingly  clear  and  precise  knowledge  of  their 
prospective  or  immediate  requirements  ;  they  have  as 
enlightened  leaders  among  them  as  ever  their  powerful 
Northern  neighbour  possessed  or  possesses  :  all  that 
they  ask,  and  all  that  they  should  be  granted,  is  the 
freedom  to  manage  their  own  affairs  in  their  own  way 
and  in  their  own  time.  A  well-known  writer  upon 
Central  America,  who  visited  these  countries  some 
five-and-fifty  years  ago,  declared  :  "  Even  as  it  was  no 
one,  whatever  his  prejudices,  could  fail  to  perceive  the 
advance  in  the  manners  and  customs,  and  the  change 
in  the  spirit,  of  the  people  of  Central  America  during 
the  ten  years  of  freedom  which  the  Constitution 
secured."  If  that  was  true  then,  it  is  doubly,  trebly 
true  to-day,  when  education  and  foreign  travel  have 
served  to  open  the  minds  and  broaden  the  tolerance  of 
these  people,  who  may  reasonably  be  permitted,  and 
even  earnestly  encouraged,  to  work  out  their  own 
salvation.  By  free  and  unrestricted  intercourse  with 
the  nations  of  the  world  this  can  best  be  effected,  and 
day  by  day  is  proving  the  truth  of  the  saying  of 
Dr.  Johnson  :  "  The  use  of  travelling  is  to  regulate 
imagination  by  reality,  and,  instead  of  thinking  how 
things  may  be,  see  them  as  they  are" 

October,  1911. 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 

FACING   PAGE 

"  The  Colours "  -         Frontispiece 

Views  on  New  National  Koad,  between  San  Vicente  and  Ilopango  -  8 
H.  E.  Dr.  Manuel  Enrique  Araujo,  President  of  the  Eepublic  of 

Salvador  1911-1915  -  18 
The  3rd  Company,  Sergeants'  School,  in  Eeview  Order  -  -  28 
Company  in  Line,  Sergeants'  School  -  28 
Section  of  Eiflemen  kneeling,  Sergeants'  School  -  -  28 
General  Fernando  Figueroa,  President  of  the  Eepublic  of  Salva- 
dor 1907-1911  -  -  38 
Dr.  Artiiro  Eamon  Avila,  Consul-General  for  the  Eepublic  of 

Salvador  to  Great  Britain,  appointed  May,  1911                          -  46 

Artillery  on  Parade- Ground,  San  Salvador  Barracks                           -  60 

Colonel's  Quarters,  School  of  Sergeants          -                                       -  70 

Officers'  Club-Eoom,  School  of  Sergeants       -                                       -  70 

Penitentiary  at  San  Salvador  -                                                                 -  78 

Officers'  Club-Eoom,  Military  Polytechnic  School      -                         -  78 

Colonel,  Adjutant,  and  Captains  of  Company                                       -  86 

Cadet  Corps,  School  of  Sergeants       -                                                    -  86 
Mr.  Lionel   Edward  Gresley  Garden,   C.M.G.,   H.B.M.    Minister- 
Eesident  at  Salvador  (as  well  as  at  Guatemala,  Nicaragua,  and 

Honduras)                                                               -                        -  98 

Front  of  Sergeants'  School,  San  Salvador      -                                     .  108 

Typical  Street  in  San  Salvador,  showing  Style  of  One- Storey  Houses  108 
Mr.  Mark  Jamestown  Kelly,  F.E.G.S.,  for  Fifteen  Years  Consul- 
General  in  Great  Britain  for  Salvador  (retired  June,  1911),  and 

Chairman  of  the  Salvador  Eailway  Company,  Limited               -  114 

Side-view  of  "  El  Eotulo "  Bridge       -                         -            -            -  118 
The  National  Eoad  leading  to  La  Libertad,  showing  "El  Eotulo" 

Bridge       -                         -                                                                -  118 

Entrance  to  Avenida  La  Ceiba  at  San  Salvador                     -            -  130 

The  Famous  Avenida  under  Construction      -  130 


xvi  LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 

FACIHQ  PACK 

View  of  the  New  Avenida  leading  to  San  Salvador,  taken  from  the 

North        -                                                                                       -  140 

View  of  the  Picturesque  Town  of  Marcala  -  -  150 
El  Parque  Barrios,  one  of  the  most  Beautiful  Public  Kesorts  in 

Central  America  -                                                                             -  162 

Government  Building  ("  Casa  Blanca  "),  San  Salvador         -            -  178 

Campo  de  Marte  (Racecourse),  San  Salvador             -            -            -  178 

1.  View  of   Butters'  Divisadero   Mines,  Department  of  Morazan, 

Salvador  -                                                                                       -  188 

2.  Butters'  Salvador  Mines,  Santa  Rosa,  Department  of  La  Uni6n, 

Salvador  -  -  -  188 

Map  of  the  Salvador  Railway  -  -  198 

Deck  Bridge  on  Salvador  Railway  -  -  206 

Station  Building  at  Santa  Ana  on  the  Salvador  Railway  -  -  206 
Mr.  Charles  T.  Spencer,  General  Manager  of  the  Salvador  Railway, 

appointed  May,  1911  -  -  222 

Don  Juan  Amaya,  Governor  of  the  Department  of  Cuscutlan  -  222 

Native  Habitation  in  the  Hot  Country  -  232 

Native  making  Sugar  from  a  Primitive  Wooden  Mill  •  -  232 

A  Street  in  Sonsonate  (Calle  de  Mercado)  -  -  242 
Type  of  "  Quinta "  or  Country-House  in  Santa  Tecla  (New  San 

Salvador)-  -  -  -  242 
Public  Park  in  San  Salvador,  where  Throngs  of  Well-dressed  People 

assemble  in  the  Evening  to  listen  to  an  Excellent  Military  Band  258 

New  National  Palace  at  San  Salvador  -  268 

Theatre  at  Santa  Ana,  Department  of  Santa  Ana  •  -  268 

Cathedral  of  Sonsonate,  Department  of  Sonsonate  -  -  274 

Public  Park  at  Cojutepeque,  Department  of  Cuscutlan  -  284 

Barracks  at  Cojutepeque,  Department  of  Cuscutlan  -  -  284 

Municipal  Palace  at  Sonsonate,  Department  of  Sonsonate  -  -  294 

Group  of  Salvadoreans  of  the  Superior  Working-Class  -  314 
The  "  Stately  "  Offices  of  His  Britannic  Majesty's  Vice-Consul  at  La 

Uni6n,  one  of  the  Principal  Ports  in  Salvador  -  306 

Barracks  at  Santa  Tecla  (New  San  Salvador)  -  -  306 

Map  of  the  Republic  of  Salvador   -  -         At  end 


SALVADOE   OF  THE   TWENTIETH 
CENTURY 

CHAPTEE  I 

Discovery  of  Salvador — Scenery — Volcanoes — Topographical  features — 
Mountain  ranges — Natural  fertility — Lake  Ilopango — Earthquake 
results— Kemarkable  phenomena — Disappearance  of  islands — Public 
roads  improvement  and  construction  under  Figueroa  government. 

IT  was  in  the  year  1502  that  Christopher  Columbus, 
that  remarkable  and  noble-minded  Genoese,  un- 
deterred by  the  shameful  treatment  meted  out  to 
him  by  his  adopted  countrymen  in  Spain,  sailed 
away  to  the  East  Indies  in  search  of  a  new  passage  ; 
and  it  was  in  consequence  of  the  mutiny  among  his 
ruffianly  followers  that,  putting  into  Hispaniola,  Sal- 
vador was  discovered.  For  something  over  300  years 
Spain  ruled,  and  ruled  brutally ;  the  history  of  her 
government  here  —  as  elsewhere  through  Latin 
America  —  being  one  long  series  of  oppressions, 
cruelties  and  injustices  practised  upon  the  unfortunate 
natives  and  the  Spanish  residents  alike.  The  ill- 
treatment  extended  to  Columbus  is  but  a  case  in  point. 
Lying  on  the  Pacific  Ocean,  between  the  parallels 
of  13°  and  14°  10'  N.  latitude,  and  the  meridians  of 
87°  and  90°  W.  longitude,  Salvador  has  a  coast-line  of 
about  160  miles,  extending  from  the  Bay  of  Fonseca  to 
the  River  Paz,  which  is  one  of  the  boundaries  between 

1 


>R  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 


this  Republic  and  the  neighbouring  State  of  Guate- 
mala. While  Salvador  is  the  smallest  of  the  five 
different  countries  forming  the  Central  American 
group,  boasting  of  but  9,600  square  miles,  it  not  alone 
possesses  some  of  the  richest  and  most  beautiful 
territory,  but  has  the  densest  population  as  well  as  the 
most  considerable  industry  and  the  most  important 
commerce. 

Very  remarkable  are  the  topographical  features  of 
Salvador,  and  very  profound  is  the  impression  created 
upon  the  traveller's  mind  as  he  approaches  it  for  the 
first  time  through  the  beautiful  Bay  of  Fonseca,  with 
its  wealth  of  tropical  scenery,  the  romantic  islands  and 
the  background  of  noble  mountains,  afforested  to  the 
tops  of  their  numerous  peaks,  and  filling  the  mind  with 
awe  at  the  memory  of  their  numerous  destructive 
eruptions  through  the  centuries. 

The  coast  here  presents,  for  the  greater  part,  a  belt 
of  low-lying,  richly  wooded  alluvial  land,  varying  in 
width  from  ten  to  twenty  miles.  Behind  this,  and 
displaying  an  abrupt  face  seawards,  rises  a  noble 
range  of  coast  mountains  —  or  rather  a  broad  plateau 
—  having  an  average  elevation  of  2,000  feet,  and 
relieved  by  numerous  volcanic  peaks.  It  is  not  the 
height  of  these  mountains  that  lends  so  much  dignity 
and  beauty,  for,  as  mountains  go,  they  would  be  con- 
sidered as  anything  but  remarkable.  It  is  their 
extraordinary  formation,  their  almost  terrible  prox- 
imity, and  their  long  and  terrifying  history,  which 
challenge  the  attention  of  the  individual  who  gazes 
upon  them  for  the  first  time. 

Between  the  range  and  the  great  primitive  chain  of 
the  Cordilleras  beyond,  lies  a  broad  valley  varying  in 
width  from  twenty  to  thirty  miles,  and  being  over  100 


PHYSICAL  FEATURES  3 

miles  in  length.  Very  gently  the  coastal  plateau  sub- 
sides towards  this  magnificent  valley,  which  is  drained 
and  abundantly  watered  by  the  Eiver  Lempa,  and  is 
unsurpassed  for  natural  beauty  and  fertility  by  any 
equal  extent  of  country  in  the  tropics. 

The  northern  border  of  this  terrestrial  paradise — so 
far  as  the  eye  can  judge  it — rests  upon  the  flank  of 
the  mountains  of  Honduras,  which  tower  skywards 
about  it  to  the  height  of  6,000  to  8,000  feet,  broken 
and  rugged  to  the  very  summits.  To  the  south  of  the 
Lempa,  however,  the  country  rises  from  the  immediate 
and  proper  valley  of  the  river,  first  in  the  form  of  a 
terrace  with  a  very  abrupt  face,  and  afterward  by  a 
gradual  slope  to  the  summit  of  the  plateau. 

Then  comes  another  curious  physical  feature — a 
deep,  green,  and  wooded  basin  of  altogether  unique 
scenic  beauty  and  fertility,  formed  by  the  system  of 
numerous  small  rivers  which  rise  in  the  western  part 
of  the  country  around  the  feet  of  the  volcano  Santa 
Ana,  falling  finally  into  the  sea  near  Sonsonate.  This 
formation  is  in  the  shape  of  a  triangle,  the  base  resting 
on  the  sea,  and  the  apex  defined  by  the  volcano.  A 
second  and  even  a  larger  basin  is  that  of  the  River 
San  Miguel,  lying  transversely  to  the  valley  of  the 
River  Lempa,  in  the  eastern  division  of  the  State,  and 
separated  only  by  a  number  of  smaller  detached  moun- 
tains from  the  Bay  of  Fonseca. 

Approaching  the  Salvadorean  coast  upon  any  of  the 
steamers  which  run  there,  one  is  confronted  with  no 
fewer  than  eleven  great  volcanoes,  which  literally 
bristle  along  the  east  of  the  plateau  which  has  been 
mentioned  as  intervening  between  the  valley  of  the 
Lempa  and  the  sea.  As  a  boy  and  a  keen  philatelist, 
I  always  wondered  why  Salvador  postage-stamps  had 


4     SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

a  group  of  three  active  and  terrible-looking  volcanoes 
upon  their  faces.  When  I  visited  that  country  for  the 
first  time  I  understood.  The  long  row  of  sentinels, 
grim,  yet  extraordinarily  beautiful,  form  a  right  line 
from  north-west  to  south-east,  accurately  coinciding 
with  the  great  line  of  volcanic  action  which  is  clearly 
defined  from  Mexico  to  Peru.  Commencing  on  the 
side  of  Guatemala  their  order  is  as  follows  :  Apaneca, 
Santa  Ana,  Izalco,  San  Salvador,  San  Vicente,  Usulu- 
tan,  Tecapa,  Zacatecoluca,  Chinameca,  San  Miguel,  and 
Conchagua.  There  are  others  of  lesser  note,  besides  a 
family  of  extinct  volcanoes,  whose  craters  are  some- 
times filled  with  water,  as  well  as  numerous  volcanic 
vents  or  "  blow-holes,"  which  the  natives  not  inaptly 
call  infiernillos,  i.e.,  " little  hells!"  Even  the  appar- 
ently harmless  and  beautiful  island  of  Tigre,  which 
occupies  the  centre  of  the  Bay  of  Fonseca,  and  a 
veritable  picture  of  scenic  grandeur,  is  a  slumbering 
volcano,  and  has  a  history  at  once  interesting  and 
terrifying.  The  memorable  Cosieguina,  El  Viejo, 
Felica,  and  Momotombo,  in  Nicaragua,  face  El  Tigre 
on  the  other  side. 

The  most  beautiful  of  the  Republic's  many  volcanic 
lakes  is  that  of  Ilopango,  on  the  borders  of  which  is 
situated  the  village  of  the  same  name,  with  a  scattered 
population  of  between  1,400  and  1,500  people.  The  lake 
is  some  6*85  miles  long  from  west  to  east,  about  5*11 
miles  wide,  with  an  area  of  25*1  square  miles  and  a 
developed  shore-line  of  28*8  miles.  The  late  President 
of  the  Republic,  General  Fernando  Figueroa,  was  kind 
enough  to  place  a  steam-launch  at  my  disposal,  which 
enabled  me  to  see  the  lake  under  the  most  favourable 
auspices,  and  in  company  with  his  nephew,  Senor 
Angulo,  I  spent  several  interesting  hours  upon  its 


SEISMIC  DISTURBANCES 


1m,  deep  green  surface.  This  lake  has  been  the 
scene  of  numerous  remarkable  volcanic  phenomena, 
the  most  recent  of  which  took  place  a  few  weeks 
after  my  visit,  and  resulted  in  the  centre  islands, 
which  were  one  of  its  most  charming  features,  com- 
pletely disappearing  beneath  the  surface  of  its  waters. 

In  January,  1880,  the  lake  had  also  been  the  scene 
of  a  severe  earthquake,  which  shook  the  entire  sur- 
rounding country.  Upon  this  occasion  the  waters 
suddenly  rose  about  4  feet  above  their  usual  level, 
and,  flowing  into  the  bed  of  the  Jiboa — a  stream  which 
forms  the  usual  outlet  from  the  lake — increased  it  to 
the  proportions  of  a  broad  and  raging  river,  which 
soon  made  for  itself  a  channel  from  30  to  35  feet 
in  depth.  A  rapid  subsidence  in  the  level  of  the 
lake  was  thus  produced,  and  by  March  6  in  the 
same  year  the  surface  was  34  feet  below  its  maxi- 
mum. It  was  then  that  the  rugged  and  stony 
island,  about  500  feet  in  diameter,  and  which  I  have 
mentioned  above,  suddenly  rose  over  the  waters, 
reaching  to  a  height  of  150  feet  above  the  level  of 
the  lake  and  being  surrounded  by  several  smaller 
islands,  the  waters  all  around  becoming  intensely  hot. 
Previous  to  this  extraordinary  phenomenon,  the  bottom 
of  the  lake,  so  I  was  informed,  had  been  gradually 
rising,  and  so  violent  was  the  flood  when  it  occurred, 
that  the  small  village  of  Atuscatla,  near  the  outlet,  was 
entirely  destroyed. 

Some  years  afterwards — namely,  in  February,  1892 
— while  some  severe  earthquakes  were  taking  place 
in  Guatemala,  their  reflex  was  felt  in  the  same  spot — 
Atuscatla,  on  Lake  Ilopango — Lieutenant  Hill,  who 
was  then  making  investigations  in  Salvador  on  behalf 
of  the  United  States  Government,  declaring  that  a 


6     SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

shock  was  felt  lasting  fifteen  seconds,  and  then  con- 
tinued with  gradually  decreasing  force  for  a  further 
one  minute  and  five  seconds. 

When  I  was  a  visitor  to  Ilopango,  there  were  two 
extremely  comfortable  hotels  to  be  found  on  the  banks, 
both  having  some  very  convenient  bathing  facilities  to 
offer,  and  each  having  a  beautiful  garden  attached. 
During  the  hot  season,  and  upon  Sundays  and  all 
holidays,  these  hotels  are  crowded  with  visitors  from 
San  Salvador,  who  ride  out  in  parties,  there  being  no 
other  mode  of  reaching  the  lake.  The  road  is  a  truly 
beautiful  one,  travellers  crossing  numerous  streams  and 
passing  through  shady,  blossom-covered  woods,  con- 
taining many  magnificent  trees.  By  moonlight  this 
route  appears  remarkably  picturesque,  and  many  people 
prefer  to  make  the  journey  thus.  Ilopango  is  some 
four  hours'  ride  from  the  capital,  and  the  journey 
across  the  lake  usually  occupies  another  two  or  three 
hours  in  an  electric  or  naphtha  launch.  The  hotels  and 
bathing  establishments,  however,  are  located  upon  the 
side  of  the  lake  nearest  to  San  Salvador. 

The  outline  of  the  beautiful  Ilopango  Lake,  when 
last  surveyed,  was  quite  accurately  determined  by 
means  of  intersections  from  the  various  topographical 
stations.  Its  surface  in  January,  1893,  was  found 
to  be  1,370  feet  (417*6  metres)  above  the  sea.  Its 
actual  depth  the  surveyors  had  no  means  of  ascer- 
taining ;  its  basin,  however,  is  far  below  the  general 
level  of  the  surrounding  ridges,  which  are  all  volcanic. 
Those  to  the  north  and  east  are  formed  of  layers  of 
sand  and  ashes  partially  compacted,  yellowish  in  colour, 
and  throwing  out  spurs  towards  the  lake,  terminating 
in  steep  bluffs.  West  of  the  lake  the  ground  rises  to 
the  San  Jacinto  Hills  ;  but  the  soft  material  composing 


LAKE  ILOPANGO  7 

it  has  been  eroded  into  a  maze  of  sharp  ridges  and 
deep  gulches.  The  eastern  hills  are  also  broken  into 
a  succession  of  knife-like  ridges. 

Professor  Goodyear,  a  famous  American  geologist, 
has  said  that  the  southern  hills  consist  entirely  of 
volcanic  materials,  but  are  of  a  much  harder  and 
firmer  structure  than  those  of  the  north  and  east, 
being  composed  largely  of  conglomerates  containing 
boulders  well  cemented  together.  The  lake  is  situated 
upon  the  volcanic  axis  of  the  country,  and  has  long 
been  the  seat  of  numerous  earthquakes  and  active 
volcanic  phenomena,  the  most  violent  of  recent  times 
being  those  of  1879  and  1880.  According  to  the  same 
Professor  Goodyear,  there  was  a  series  of  earthquake 
shockSj  some  of  great  violence,  extending  from  Decem- 
ber 22  to  January  12,  1880,  followed  by  a  period  of 
quiet  until  the  night  of  January  20,  when,  after  a 
series  of  loud  reports  and  explosions,  followed  by 
violent  hissings  and  dense  clouds  of  steam,  a  mass  of 
volcanic  rock  rose  from  the  centre  of  the  lake  to  a 
height  of  58  feet  (177  metres).  Previous  to  this 
the  bottom  of  the  lake  had  been  gradually  rising 
until  January  11,  and  the  waters  had  been  lifted  to 
maximum  height  of  5*2  feet  above  their  usual  level. 
This  sudden  rise  converted  the  outlet  from  a  small 
stream — not  over  20  feet  wide  and  a  foot  deep,  and 
with  a  current  of  two  or  three  miles  per  hour — 
into  a  raging  torrent  discharging  as  much  water  as 
a  great  river.  So  violent  was  the  flood  that  the  small 
village  of  Atuscatla,  situated  near  the  outlet,  was 
as  stated,  destroyed,  and  the  channel  was  so  widened 
and  deepened  that  the  waters  of  the  lake  fell  38 '6  feet 
(1175  metres)  from  the  highest  point  reached,  or 
33*4  feet  (10*17  metres)  below  their  original  level. 


8     SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

During  the  time  of  this  flood  the  Eio  Jiboa,  which 
carries  off  the  waters  of  the  lake,  was  enormously 
swollen  and  became  very  muddy,  and  in  the  lower 
portion  overflowed  its  banks,  flooding  broad  tracts  of 
the  plain.  By  the  middle  of  February,  1880,  the  lake 
adjusted  itself  to  the  new  conditions,  and  since  that 
time,  until  the  visitation  of  last  year  (1910),  there  had 
been  no  great  change  in  its  level ;  the  variations  at 
present  going  on  are  due  to  the  excess  of  precipitation 
during  the  rainy  months  over  that  which  is  prevalent 
in  the  dry  season. 

Anyone  who  had  seen  Salvador,  say,  ten  years  ago, 
and  who  revisited  it  to-day,  would  assuredly  be 
impressed  by  the  great  improvement  which  has  taken 
place  in,  and  the  extension  of,  both  the  main  and  sub- 
roads  of  the  Republic.  Whereas  in  former  times  the 
roads  were  only  passable  in  the  dry  season,  and  were 
even  then  very  trying  to  travellers  on  account  of  the 
dust  encountered,  while  in  the  wet  season  they  became 
mere  morasses,  to-day  they  are  in  the  majority  of  cases 
so  well  built  and  so  carefully  maintained  that  even 
in  the  wet  season  of  the  year  it  is  quite  possible  to 
use  them. 

This  great  improvement  has  been  brought  about 
mainly  by  the  enterprise  of  the  late  President, 
General  Fernando  Figueroa,  who  evinced  a  keen  and 
consistent  interest  in  opening  up  new  means  of  com- 
munication by  making  public  roadways  of  enduring 
worth,  his  excellent  work  being  actively  continued  by 
his  present  successor. 

The  main  routes  of  communication  in  Salvador  run 
longitudinally  through  the  country,  from  Rio  Paz  and 
the  city 'of  Ahuachapdn  on  the  west,  to  La  Union  and 
the  Rio  Guascoran  on  the  east.  From  this  central 


VIEWS  ON  NEW  NATIONAL  ROAD,  BETWEEN  SAN  VICENTE  AND  ILOPANGO. 


,*•*•  I  I*  2  .•'!*•••"  "I  5  ..5  •"•*•  ••• 


MAIN  ROADS  9 

line,  which  connects  all  the  important  cities  and  towns 
of  the  interior,  other  roads  run  out  like  spurs  to  the 
towns  and  the  cities  to  the  nothward,  or  to  those  of 
the  coast  to  the  southward.  Thus,  from  Santa  Ana 
there  is  a  road  north  to  Metapan,  and  one  south  to 
Sonsonate  and  Acajutla.  Ahuachapdn  also  has  a  road 
to  Sonsonate  via  Ataco  and  Apaneca,  two  towns  which 
are  located  high  up  in  the  mountains.  At  Sitio  de 
Nino,  on  the  Salvador  Eailway  line,  there  is  a  road 
northward  to  Opico.  Here,  also,  the  main  road  to  the 
city  of  San  Salvador  divides,  one  branch  going  north 
to  the  volcano  of  that  name,  and  the  other  to  the 
south  of  it  via  the  famous  Guarumal  Ravine  and  Santa 
Tecla.  From  the  city  of  San  Salvador  there  are  roads 
north  to  Chalatenango  via  Tonacatepeque,  and  south 
to  the  port  of  La  Libertad  via  Santa  Tecla. 

Cojutepeque  is  connected  by  road  to  the  towns  of 
Ilobasco  and  Sensuntepeque  to  the  north-east.  San 
Vicente  has  a  road  to  the  port  of  La  Libertad,  running 
south-west  via  Zacatecoluca.  At  San  Vicente  the 
main  east  and  west  road  separates,  one  branch  going 
to  the  north  of  the  Tecapa-San  Miguel  group  of  vol- 
canoes, via  the  cities  of  Jucuapa  and  Chinameca  to  San 
Miguel,  and  the  other  south  via  the  city  of  Usulutan. 
San  Miguel  has  several  roads  leading  in  all  directions. 
There  is  one  north  to  the  town  of  Gotera,  another 
north-east  to  the  Mining  District  via  Jocoro  and  Santa 
Rosa,  which  continues  to  the  principal  crossings  of  the 
Rio  Guascoran ;  and  there  is  yet  another,  running 
nearly  due  east  to  La  Union,  on  the  Gulf  of  Fonseca. 

I  was  in  the  country  while  construction  was  proceed- 
ing in  connection  with  the  Ilopango-San  Vicente  road 
improvements,  and  I  was  much  impressed  with  the 
thoroughness  of  the  work  being  undertaken.  The  new 


10     SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

construction  was  some  40  kilometres  long  by  6j  to  7 
metres  in  width  (say  20  to  25  feet).  It  was  commenced 
in  1906,  and  it  will  be  finished  by  the  end  of  next 
year  (1912).  It  is  estimated  to  cost  not  less  than 
350,000  pesos.  It  is  a  purely  Government  undertak- 
ing, and  ranks  as  one  of  the  most  important  highways 
in  the  Republic.  At  first  over  250  men  were  employed, 
but  as  the  work  progressed  this  number  was  reduced 
to  200.  The  highest  part  of  the  road  is  cut  through 
the  side  of  the  mountain  at  210  metres  (say  700 
feet)  above  the  shore  of  Lake  Ilopango.  The  steepest 
gradient  is  7  per  cent.,  and  the  minimum  radius  20  feet. 
The  most  expensive  part  was  that  between  Kilometre  14 
and  Kilometre  13,  where  extremely  hard  rocks  have 
had  to  be  cut  through.  At  one  point  ten  men  were 
engaged  for  a  period  of  nine  months  upon  the  most 
difficult  part,  and  they  were  suspended  from  above  by 
ropes,  in  order  to  reach  and  to  cut  down  the  massive 
timber  trees  obstructing  progress. 

The  Chief  Engineer  engaged  by  the  Government  to 
undertake  this  contract  is  Senor  Don  Juan  Luis 
Bueron,  a  German  by  birth,  having  seen  the  light  at 
Konigsberg;  but  he  is  a  United  States  citizen  by 
adoption.  Senor  Bueron  is  now  seventy-eight  years  of 
age,  and  although  he  is  getting  rather  beyond  active 
hard  work,  his  valuable  experience  and  shrewd  judg- 
ment are  much  appreciated  by  the  Government  in  all 
such  matters  as  road  construction.  He  has  built  many 
public  roads  in  North  America,  he  told  me,  and  was 
also  responsible  for  laying  the  track  of  the  Havana 
(Cuba)  tramways.  This  interesting  old  engineer  had 
also  gained  some  experience  in  Mexico  before  the  days 
of  Maximilian  (1857-1869).  He  now  occupies  a  position 
of  comfort,  and  enjoys  the  deep  respect  of  the  hundreds 


ROAD  CONSTRUCTION  11 

of  peons  who  call  him  master.  Senor  Juan  Bueron 
junior,  the  son,  is  an  equally  capable  road  engineer, 
and  assists  his  father  in  his  work  for  the  Government 
of  Salvador. 

Another  road  deserving  of  mention  is  that  which 
has  been  put  under  the  charge  of  the  official  engineer, 
Don  Guillermo  Quiros,  and  one  which  unites  the  town 
of  Santiago-de-Maria  with  the  port  of  Linares,  on  the 
River  Lempa,  passing  through  Alegria.  The  section 
from  Santiago-de-Maria  to  Alegria  has  been  completed, 
and  it  was  officially  inaugurated  while  I  was  in  the 
Republic  ;  the  journey  from  Berlin  to  the  River  Lempa 
can  now  be  continued  with  much  greater  celerity. 
Very  considerable  are  the  advantages  that  this  high- 
way has  brought  to  that  part  of  the  country,  in  which 
are  situated  the  most  valuable  coffee  plantations,  whose 
owners  now  find  far  greater  conveniences  for  bringing 
the  berry  to  the  port  of  El  Triunfo,  since  the  road 
leading  to  this  place  has  also  been  repaired  and 
widened  to  facilitate  the  transit  by  beasts  of  burden. 
The  official  engineer,  Don  Manuel  Aragon,  has  been 
occupied  with  the  planning  and  opening  of  a  road  from 
Citala,  in  the  department  of  Chalatenango,  to  Metapan, 
in  the  department  of  Santa  Ana.  The  road  leading 
from  this  capital  to  the  port  of  La  Libertad  is  likewise 
the  object  of  attention.  The  official  engineer,  Don 
Andres  Soriano,  with  a  gang  of  foremen  and  labourers, 
have  been  working  for  several  months  past  repairing  it. 

This  highroad  continually  needs  very  large  sums  of 
money  for  maintenance.  The  repairs  which  in  former 
years  have  been  carried  out  have  proved  anything  but 
lasting,  owing  to  the  serious  mistakes  in  construction 
of  an  engineer  who  put  into  practice  certain  untried 
experiments,  which  completely  failed. 


12    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

It  is  necessary  now  to  remedy  this  mistake,  and 
drains  and  aqueducts  have  had  to  be  constructed  on 
the  road  where  none  previously  existed,  to  avoid,  in 
the  rainy  season,  destruction  by  the  strong  currents  of 
water  rushing  over  it.  The  official  engineer,  Don 
Alberto  Pinto,  was  occupied  during  a  good  part  of  the 
year  1908  upon  road  works,  having  made  many  altera- 
tions, improvements  and  widenings  in  the  roads  of 
the  Departments  of  San  Miguel,  La  Union,  Usulutan, 
Chalatenango,  Santa  Ana  and  Cabanas. 

On  the  way  from  Mercedes  to  Jucuapa,  and  also 
upon  the  road  to  San  Miguel,  it  is  proposed  to  construct 
a  bridge  of  stone  and  mortar,  at  the  place  called 
Barrancas  de  Jucuapa ;  the  chief  engineer,  Senor  Pinto, 
has  already  made  an  estimate  and  sent  in  the  corre- 
sponding plans.  The  cost  will  amount  to  a  little  more 
or  a  little  less  than  $10,000. 


CHAPTEK  II 

Early  Days  of  independence — "Central  American  Federation" — Consti- 
tutional Presidents — Executive  power — Chamber  of  Congress — The 
Cabinet — Justice — The  courts — Prisons  and  prisoners — Employment 
and  treatment — Police  force — How  distributed — Education — Colleges 
and  schools  —  State-aided  education  —  Teaching  staffs  —  Primary 
education — Posts  and  telegraphs — Improved  interstate  parcels  post. 

THE  breaking  away  from  Spanish  dominion  (although 
the  seeds  of  revolution  were  laid  as  far  back  as  1811) 
did  not  take  place  until  ten  years  later,  and  coincided 
with  the  successful  termination  of  the  struggle  for 
liberty  which  occurred  in  Mexico  under  the  patriot 
priest  Hidalgo.  Salvador  gained  its  freedom,  com- 
paratively speaking,  without  bloodshed ;  and  on 
September  15,  1821,  it  was  declared  a  free  and  inde- 
pendent State.  In  the  year  following  an  attempt  was 
made  to  annex  the  country  to  the  Mexican  Empire, 
under  the  rule  of  the  ambitious  and  unscrupulous 
Emperor  Agustin  Yturbide,  during  his  very  brief 
reign,  in  1822.  As  history  relates,  this  presumptuous 
Mexican  was  born  in  Valladolid  (now  known  as  More- 
lia)  on  September  27,  1783,  and  he  was  sentenced  to 
death  and  shot  on  July  19,  1824. 

It  is  to  the  credit  of  Salvador  that  it  was  the  one 
Central  American  State  which  firmly  resisted  the 
invasion  of  the  Mexican  troops ;  but  in  the  end  it  had 
to  submit  to  a  far  superior  force,  commanded  by 
General  Filisola,  and  was  then  formally  incorporated 

13 


14    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

into  the  Mexican  Empire.  This  humiliation  endured, 
however,  for  a  very  brief  time,  since  in  the  following 
year  Yturbide  met  his  violent  death,  after  which  a 
Constitutional  Convention  was  called,  and  in  1824  a 
Federal  Republic  was  declared  bearing  the  name  of  the 
"  Central  American  Federation."  This  was  composed 
of  the  five  States — Salvador,  Guatemala,  Honduras, 
Nicaragua  and  Costa  Rica — the  first  President  being 
General  Manuel  Jose  Arce. 

Party  jealousies  and  personal  ambitions,  however, 
soon  brought  about  disintegration,  and  in  spite  of  the 
efforts  of  some  far-seeing  patriots,  who  considered  that 
in  union  alone  lay  the  hope  of  peace,  security  and 
prosperity  for  their  country,  the  form  of  government 
proved  wholly  impracticable.  Nevertheless  it  con- 
tinued for  a  few  years  to  struggle  along,  General 
Francisco  Morazan,  doing  his  best  to  maintain  order 
and  to  save  the  union  from  disruption.  Notwith- 
standing all  his  efforts,  the  Federation  was  dissolved  in 
1839,  and  the  five  States  again  became  independent 
Sovereign  Republics.  Three  years  later  General 
Morazan  unwisely  made  another  effort  to  reunite  the 
countries  ;  but  his  attempt  was  treacherously  rewarded 
by  a  conspiracy  against  his  life,  followed  by  his  exe- 
cution in  San  Jose",  Costa  Rica,  in  the  month  of 
September,  1842. 

Since  his  death  various  attempts  have  been  made 
from  time  to  time,  to  reunite  the  several  Republics, 
the  last  effort  of  this  kind  having  been  prosecuted  by 
General  Zelaya,  perhaps  one  of  the  most  unscrupulous 
and  dishonest,  as  well  as  one  of  the  cruellest,  Spanish- 
Americans  who  has  ever  attained  supreme  power. 
Whatever  chances  of  success  a  United  Central 
America  might  have  had,  under  the  auspices  of  a 


PRESIDENTS  15 

Zelaya  it  could  have  never  met  with  anything  but 
failure.  General  Zelaya,  in  spite  of  frantic  efforts  to 
maintain  his  position,  was  himself  chased  from  Nicar- 
agua in  1909,  and  is  now  said  to  he  living  in  Europe 
upon  the  proceeds  of  the  money  which  he  is  declared 
to  have  filched  from  his  country  during  his  long  and 
oppressive  reign. 

In  the  year  1885,  General  Justo  Rufino  Barrios, 
President  of  Guatemala,  had  sought  to  accomplish 
what  Morazan  had  failed  to  do  ;  but  his  efforts  ended 
equally  in  disaster.  On  August  13,  1886,  the  Con- 
stitution which  is  at  present  in  force  was  promul- 
gated, and  General  Menendez  was  elected  as  first 
President  under  that  Constitution  by  popular  vote  in 
1887,  for  the  term  ending  in  1890.  He  was  succeeded 
by  General  Carlos  Ezeta,  who  was  inaugurated  on 
March  1,  1891.  The  third  President  was  General 
Rafael  Gutierrez.  Then  followed  General  Tomas 
Regalado  ;  Don  Pedro  Jose  Escalon ;  General  Fern- 
ando Figueroa ;  and  the  ruling  President,  Doctor 
Manuel  Enrique  Araujo. 

The  form  of  government  in  vogue  is  that  of  a 
free,  sovereign  and  independent  Republic — that  is  to 
say,  democratic,  elective,  and  representative.  The 
Constitution  now  in  existence  is  contained  in  a 
code  of  articles.  The  Government  is  divided  into 
Legislative,  Executive,  and  Judicial  sections.  The 
Legislative  power  is  vested  in  the  National  Assembly, 
which  is  composed  of  one  Chamber,  and  having  the 
title  of  the  National  Chamber  of  Deputies.  This  con- 
sists of  42  members,  three  Deputies  being  elected  for 
each  Department  by  direct  popular  vote  for  a  term  of 
one  year,  the  right  to  vote  being  vested  in  every  male 
citizen  who  is  over  eighteen  years  of  age.  It  is  to  be 


16    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

observed  that  every  Salvadorean  is  not  only  privileged, 
but  is  compelled  to  vote,  thus  doing  his  duty  to  the 
State. 

The  Executive  consists  of  a  President  and  a  Vice- 
President,  who  are  elected  by  popular  vote  for  a  term 
of  four  years.  In  addition  to  being  Chief  Magistrate, 
the  President  is  also  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  Army. 
In  the  event  of  a  failure  to  elect  the  Executive,  a 
President  is  chosen  by  a  majority  of  votes  in  the 
Congress  from  among  the  three  candidates  having 
polled  the  largest  number  of  votes  in  the  popular 
election.  He  is  not  eligible  for  re-election  either  as 
President  or  as  Vice-President  until  four  years  shall  have 
elapsed.  The  date  of  the  Executive's  inauguration  is 
on  March  1  following  the  election,  which  is  usually 
held  in  the  month  of  November. 

The  administration  of  each  of  the  fourteen  different 
Departments  is  in  the  hands  of  a  Governor,  who  is 
selected  by  the  President  from  personal  knowledge  of 
both  his  capacity  and  temperament.  Besides  adminis- 
tering the  civil  affairs  of  the  territory  under  his  juris- 
diction, this  official  is  usually  either  a  military  man  or 
one  possessed  of  adequate  military  knowledge  ;  and  he  is 
thus  Commandant  of  the  military  of  his  Department. 

It  was  my  pleasure  to  meet,  and  spend  some  con- 
siderable time  in  the  company  of,  many  of  the 
Governors  of  the  different  Departments,  and  I  was 
deeply  impressed  with  their  general  thoroughness  of 
purpose,  their  keen  desire  in  all  cases  to  further  the 
interests  of  their  Departments,  and  to  apply  to  their 
benefit  any  and  every  advantage  which  could  be 
adapted  from  the  governments  of  other  countries. 

The  municipalities,  on  the  other  hand,  are  managed 
entirely  by  their  own  officials,  all  of  whom  are  elected 


MUNICIPALITIES  17 

by  the  people  themselves.  The  officials  comprise  an 
Alcade,  or  Mayor,  a  Syndic  and  several  Regidores,  or 
Aldermen,  these  being  numbered  according  to  the  size 
of  the  population.  A  good  deal  of  competition  exists 
for  office,  and  at  the  time  of  election  much  amusement 
is  derived  from  watching  the  canvassing  in  progress. 
There  is  a  decidedly  healthy  appearance  of  municipal 
enterprise  in  most  of  the  towns  of  Salvador,  and,  taking 
these  as  a  whole,  they  seem  to  be  uncommonly  well 
administered.  In  the  accepted  sense  of  the  word,  there 
is  no  real  poverty,  no  slums,  no  crying  "  graft "  scandal 
demanding  redress,  as  in  our  much-vaunted  civilization, 
and  such  charities  as  are  rendered  necessary  in  the 
form  of  hospital  relief  and  medical  attention  are 
rendered  cheerfully  and  as  a  matter  of  course,  entail- 
ing neither  a  favour  nor  a  dependence  upon  either 
party. 

In  Salvador,  as  in  all  the  Latin-American  Republics, 
the  President  is  a  reality,  and  not  a  mere  figure-head. 
He  makes  his  presence  felt,  and  yet,  in  a  perfectly 
constitutional  manner  ;  he  associates  the  form  of  a 
democracy  with  the  reality  of  government.  For  many 
years  past  the  people  have  had,  and  have  to-day,  an 
excellent  example  of  a  thoroughly  sensible  and  dignified 
Chief  Executive,  who  has  firmly  upheld  the  good  name 
of  the  country  and  piloted  it  with  a  strong,  and  even 
masterly,  hand  through  a  maze  of  difficulties.  Of 
General  Fernando  Figueroa  as  of  Doctor  don  Manuel 
Enrique  Araujo,  it  may  truthfully  be  said  that  they 
have  kept  before  them  a  lofty  ideal  of  the  honour  of 
their  nation,  and  one  which  has  been  the  one  incentive 
in  guiding  their  policy.  The  whole  demeanour  of  these 
distinguished  men  has  been  productive  of  the  country's 
esteem,  while  their  real  Qualities  for  administration 


18    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

have  not  been  denied  even  by  their  most  determined 
political  opponents. 

The  personnel  of  the  present  Ministry  in  Salvador 
reflects  the  best  intelligence  and  the  greatest  adminis- 
trative ability  of  that  country,  the  President  having 
selected  from  among  the  former  members  of  the 
Cabinet,  and  added  to  their  number,  such  persons  as 
enjoy  the  confidence  of  the  majority  of  the  Congress  ; 
and  he  has  retained  them  as  his  advisers  and  his 
coadjutors  so  long  as,  and  not  longer  than,  that  con- 
fidence continues.  The  present  Cabinet  consist  of  the 
following  : 

MINISTERS  OR  SECRETARIES  OF  STATE. 

Foreign  Affairs,  Justice  and  Beneficence :  Doctor  don  Francisco  Dueiias. 
Interior,   Industry  ("Fomento"),  Public  Instruction   and  Agriculture: 

Doctor  don  Teodosio  Corranza. 
Finances  and  Public  Credit :  Don  Eafael  Guirola,  D. 

SUB-SECRETARIES  OF  STATE. 

Foreign  Affairs  :  Doctor  don  Manuel  Castro,  K. 

Justice  and  Beneficence :  Doctor  don  Jose  Antonio  Castro,  V. 

Interior  :  Doctor  Cecilio  Bustamente. 

Industry  ("  Fomento") :  Ingeniero  Jose  Maria  Peralta  Lagos. 

Public  Instruction :  Doctor  Gustavo  Baron. 

Agriculture  :  Don  Miguel  Dueiias. 

Finance  and  Public  Credit :  Don  Carlos  G.  Prieto. 

War  and  Marine  :  Don  Eusebio  Bracaraonte. 

Perhaps  it  is  the  Ministry  of  the  Interior  which  is 
charged  with  the  most  numerous  and  most  important 
sections.  Upon  this  Department  depend  the  General 
Direction  of  the  Post-Office  ;  the  General  Direction  of 
the  Telegraph  and  Telephones ;  the  General  Direction 
of  Police;  the  Direction  of  the  National  Printing 
Establishment ;  the  Direction  of  the  Superior  Council 
of  Health  ;  the  General  Direction  of  Vaccination,  as 
well  as  of  the  Municipal  Treasury  and  many  other  small 


H.  E.  DR.  MANUEL  ENRIQUE  ARAUJO  ; 
PRESIDENT  OF  THE  REPUBLIC  OF  SALVADOR  1911-1915. 


ADMINISTRATION  OF  JUSTICE  19 

offices  that  complete  the  establishments  included  in 
the  public  administration. 

The  number  of  measures  carried  out  by  this  one 
Ministry  during  the  years  1907  and  1908  amounted, 
more  or  less,  to  3,600.  The  subjects  that  came  under 
the  jurisdiction  of  the  Secretaryship  of  State  are  also 
many  and  complex  ;  and  in  order  to  attain  results 
they  demand  both  constant  attention  and  an  intimate 
knowledge  of  the  administrative  laws,  the  many 
special  regulations,  the  numerous  statutes  and  disposi- 
tions which  exist,  as  well  as  any  quantity  of  minor 
laws. 

The  Judicial  Power  is  vested  in  a  Supreme  Court, 
which  holds  its  sittings  in  the  city  of  San  Salvador ; 
two  District  Courts,  which  are  also  held  in  the  city ; 
District  Courts  which  are  held  in  the  cities  of  Santa 
Ana,  San  Miguel,  and  Cojutepeque,  as  well  as  periodi- 
cal Circuit  Courts  held  in  different  districts ;  and 
there  is  a  long  list  of  Justices  of  the  Peace. 

The  Justices  of  the  Supreme  Court  are  elected  by 
the  National  Assembly  for  a  term  of  two  years,  while 
the  Judges  of  the  First  and  Second  Instance  are 
appointed  by  the  Supreme  Court  for  a  term  of  two 
years.  The  Justices  of  the  Minor  Courts  are  elected 
by  popular  vote. 

As  in  most  Latin- American  countries,  the  course  of 
justice  is  not  always  speedy,  all  depositions,  no  matter 
how  trivial  the  case  under  trial  may  be,  nor  whether 
it  be  civil  or  criminal,  having  to  be  laboriously  written 
out,  "  examination-in-chief  "  and  "  cross-examination  " 
being  practices  little  known.  Naturally,  an  immense 
amount  of  valuable  time  is  thus  consumed,  and  the 
results  are  anything  but  conclusive. 

To   a    considerable    extent    the    administration  of 


20     SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

justice  in  Central  America  is  based  upon  the  same 
principles  as  those  in  force  in  the  United  States,  and 
it  is  generally  admitted,  especially  by  those  who  have 
suffered  from  them,  that  these  are  far  from  perfect. 
The  theory  of  Latin-American  justice  is  excellent,  such 
theory  being  that  every  man  is  entitled  to  justice 
speedily  and  without  delay,  freely  and  without  price. 
We  all  know  that  this  is  not  the  experience  of 
litigants  generally,  and  in  no  part  of  Latin  America 
can  the  administration  of  justice  be  considered  entirely 
perfect.  Salvador  is  not  worse  off  than  any  of  its 
neighbours  in  this  respect,  while,  on  the  other  hand, 
there  is  a  decided  amount  of  respect  entertained  for 
the  judiciary,  and  few  verdicts  have  been  given  which 
have  called  forth  any  protest,  nor  many  rulings  handed 
down  which  have  excited  conflict  among  the  public. 

Travellers  in  Latin-American  countries,  more  often 
than  not  such  as  pay  but  a  very  superficial  visit  to 
those  lands,  are  in  the  habit  of  drawing  pitiful  pictures 
of  the  cruelty  practised  upon  prisoners  and  injustice 
shown  towards  litigants,  and  they  indulge  in  harrowing 
accounts  of  " nauseating  filth,"  "poisonous  stenches," 
" germs  of  disease/'  "bad  food,"  and  numerous  other, 
blood-curdling  horrors.  However  true  such  descrip- 
tions of  some  countries  are,  and  I  rather  imagine  that 
most  of  them  are  the  outcome  of  vivid  imagination  on 
the  one  hand  and  of  blind  prejudice  upon  the  other,  it 
is  certain  that  nothing  of  this  kind  can  be  truthfully 
said  about  Salvador. 

It  would  be  ridiculous  to  suppose  that  this  Republic 
more  than  any  other  builds  luxuriously-equipped  and 
comfortable  prison-houses,  to  act  as  an  encouragement 
for  the  committing  of  crime.  The  object  of  punish- 
ment, we  are  told,  is  prevention  of  evil,  and  we  all 


PRISONS  21 

know  that  under  no  circumstances  can  it  be  made 
incentive  to  good.  The  punishments  inflicted  upon 
Salvadorean  prisoners  are  based  upon  much  about  the 
same  scale  as  in  other  countries ;  but  the  physical 
condition  of  the  prisoners  as  a  whole  is  infinitely 
better  than  that  which  is  to  be  met  with  in  any  other 
Latin- American  country,  with  the  two  exceptions  of 
Peru  and  Mexico.*  Of  all  three  countries  I  may  say 
with  every  justice  that  the  present  prison  system  is  of 
a  much  more  lenient  and  humane  nature  than  that  of 
any  other  country  in  either  the  old  or  new  world.  I 
state  this  deliberately  and  after  having  visited  most  of 
the  prisons  in  Latin- American  Republics,  as  well  as 
many  of  those  to  be  found  in  Europe  and  the  United 
States. 

It  is  the  object  of  the  Government  of  Salvador  to 
make  as  much  use  of  prisoners'  services  as  is  legitimate, 
and  at  the  same  time  to  find  for  them  intelligent  and 
useful  occupations.  While  hard  work  is  not  always 
compulsory,  and  is  not  always  an  accompaniment  of  a 
sentence  to  imprisonment,  every  encouragement  is 
offered  to  prisoners  to  engage  themselves  in  some  kind 
of  work  ;  and  in  many  instances  substantial  payments 
are  derived  from  some  of  the  work  thus  undertaken, 
all  such  payments  being  carefully  preserved  for  the  use 
of  the  prisoners,  and  handed  over  to  them  at  the  time 
of  their  release.  Thus,  for  instance,  in  the  Peniten- 
ciaria  Central,  at  San  Salvador,  which  is  the  chief 
penal  establishment  in  the  Republic,  many  of  the 
prisoners  are  engaged  in  making  furniture  for  the 
public  offices,  as  well  as  military  and  police  uniforms, 
boots,  etc.,  likewise  for  use  in  the  army  and  the  police 

*  See  "  Mexico  of  the  XXth  Century,"  vol.  i.,  pp.  79,  83,  86,  and  vol.  ii., 
pp.  101,  143,  by  the  same  Author. 


22    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

force.  I  am  not  sure  whether  any  payment  is  made 
to  prisoners  for  this  kind  of  contribution ;  but  in  other 
penal  establishments  which  I  visited  I  observed  that 
the  prisoners  were  making  baskets,  mats,  toys,  and 
other  small  articles,  which  were  offered  to  visitors  for 
a  trifling  sum,  and  in  other  cases  were  sent  to  the 
public  market  for  sale. 

At  the  Penitenciaria  at  Santa  Ana  the  same  method 
was  in  vogue  with  regard  to  employing  prisoners,  some 
remarkably  good  furniture,  police  clothing,  and  military 
boots  and  shoes,  being  turned  out  here  also.  In  this 
establishment,  as  well  as  in  others,  the  utmost  cleanli- 
ness prevails.  The  long  rows  of  airy  and  well- 
ventilated  cells  are  well  lighted,  the  walls  and  ceilings 
being  whitewashed  and  the  floors,  built  of  red  brick, 
kept  scrupulously  clean.  No  furniture  of  any  kind  is 
allowed  to  remain  in  the  cells  during  the  day,  but  at 
night  mattresses  with  clean  blankets  are  thrown  down 
side  by  side,  and  the  prisoners  sleep  with  their  day- 
clothes  folded  up  and  placed  under  their  heads  or 
deposited  under  the  mattresses. 

In  other  cells  there  are  light  canvas  or  wooden  cots 
of  an  easily  detachable  nature,  which  are  folded  up 
and  put  away  during  the  daytime,  so  that  the  cells 
are  always  free  from  encumbrances  of  any  kind. 
Prisoners  are  allowed  to  move  about  freely  (unless 
under  very  severe  punishment  due  to  violence)  from 
the  cells  to  the  yard,  and  most  of  them  are  engaged 
during  the  daytime  in  weaving  baskets,  sewing 
materials,  or  doing  some  other  kind  of  work  which 
may  be  congenial  to  them.  They  are  not  compelled 
to  wear  any  special  form  of  clothing  nor  a  degrading 
uniform,  while  some  are  even  permitted  to  smoke. 

Although  strictly  guarded  by  armed  soldiers,  I  did 


POLICE  23 

not,  when  I  visited  these  establishments,  witness  a 
single  instance  of  brutality  or  overbearing  demeanour 
on  the  part  of  these  guardians  ;  on  the  other  hand, 
there  seemed  to  be  a  sort  of  fraternity  between  them 
and  their  wards,  chatting  and  laughter  proceeding, 
apparently,  without  objection  upon  the  part  of  the 
Governor  or  Superintendents. 

The  area  of  the  prison  cells  was  in  no  case  less  than 
10  feet  by  6  feet,  and  in  some  instances  it  was  found 
to  be  considerably  larger.  All  ablutionary  exercises 
take  place  in  the  paved  yard  of  the  prison,  and 
prisoners  are  compelled  to  bathe  at  least  once  a  week 
in  the  open  air ;  those  who  are  so  inclined  may  take  a 
bath  once  every  day.  The  food,  which  I  had  tho 
opportunity  of  tasting,  seemed  thoroughly  wholesome 
and  plentiful,  meat  being  provided  in  quantities  as 
well  as  boiled  maize,  beans  (frijoles\  and  coffee  of 
excellent  quality. 

I  can  only  repeat  that,  from  close  personal  observa- 
tion, I  am  unable  to  endorse  any  of  the  harrowing 
descriptions  of  prison  barbarities,  which  I  have  referred 
to  above,  as  applying  in  any  way  to  Salvadorean 
penitentiaries. 

Considerable  attention  has  been  paid  to  the  estab- 
lishment and  maintenance  of  a  thoroughly  efficient 
Police  Force,  by  the  late  Director-General,  General 
Enrique  Bara,  who  has  studied  the  question  of  Police 
administration  in  Europe  and  the  United  States,  and 
has  applied  most  of  the  good  points  which  he  found 
existing  there  to  the  Police  organization  in  the 
Republic  of  Salvador. 

All  Police  are  under  the  control  of  the  Minister  of 
the  Interior — Ministerio  de  Gobernaci6n — although 
the  organization  itself  is  a  military  one.  The  severest 


24     SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

discipline  is  maintained,  and  the  men  are  moderately 
well  paid.  They  seem,  moreover,  to  be  drawn  from 
the  better  classes  instead  of  from  the  worst,  as  is  so 
often,  unfortunately,  the  case  in  some  parts  of  Latin 
America. 

All  the  larger  towns,  such  as  Santa  Ana,  San  Miguel, 
Sonsonate,  La  Uni6n,  etc.,  have  their  own  well- 
organized  Police  Force,  each  placed  under  a  responsible 
officer,  but  all  of  them  directly  dependent  upon,  and 
subject  to  control  from,  the  Capital.  Especial  care  is 
taken  to  organize  both  the  day  and  night  corps,  and, 
as  a  consequence  of  the  strictness  which  is  maintained, 
very  few  robberies,  and  scarcely  any  murders,  take 
place  nowadays  in  the  Capital  or  chief  towns. 

The  Superior  Officers  of  the  Police  Force  consist  of 
the  following : 

1  Director -General. 

1  Sub-Director. 

1  Secretario  de  la  Direcci6n  (Secretary  to  the  Director-General). 

1  Tesorero  Especifico  (Special  Treasurer). 

1  Instructor. 

1  Ayudante  de  la  Direccion  (Adjutant  to  the  Director). 

1  Juez  Especial  de  Policia  (Special  Police  Magistrate). 

1  Secretario  del  Juzgado  de  Policia  (Secretary  to  the  Police  Magistrate). 

1  Guarda-Almacen  (Storekeeper). 

1  Escribiente  de  la  Direcci6n  (Amanuensis  to  the  Director). 

1  Escribiente  del  Juzgado  (Amanuensis  to  the  Magistrate). 

1  Escribiente  de  la  Comandancia  (Amanuensis  to  the  Commandant). 

1  Medico  del  Cuerpo  (Doctor  to  the  Corps), 

1  Practicante  (Assistant-Surgeon). 

1  Telegrafista  (Telegraphist). 
3  Barberos  (Barbers). 

2  Asistentes  (Assistants). 

The  present  Director-General  of  the  Police  is  General 
Gregorio  Hernandez  A.,  who  was  appointed  in  the 
month  of  May  last  (1911). 

The  Capital  is  divided  up  into  seven  different 
districts  or  zones,  each  zone  being  policed  as  follows  : 


POLICE  25 

Zone  1 :  1  Comandante  (Chief   Superintendent  in  Charge),  1  Sergeant, 

4  Inspectors,  and  60  Policemen. 
Zone  2  :  Same  as  Zone  1. 

Zone  3 :  1  Comandante,  1  Sergeant,  3  Inspectors,  and  60  Policemen. 
Zone  4 :  1  Comandante,  1  Sergeant,  2  Inspectors,  and  64  Policemen. 
Zone  5  :  1  Comandante,  1  Sergeant,  2  Inspectors,  and  64  Policemen. 
Zone  6  :  1  Comandante,  1  Sergeant,  2  Inspectors,  and  56  Policemen. 
Zone  7 :  1  Comandante,  1  Sergeant,  2  Inspectors,  and  40  Policemen. 

In  this  last  zone  the  policemen  are  mounted. 
The  different  Departments  are  also  well  policed,  as 
follows  : 

New  San  Salvador  (Santa  Tecla),  having  1  Comandante  (Superintendent 

and  Director),  2  Inspectors,  and  40  Policemen. 
Sonsonate  :  1  Comandante  (Superintendent  and  Director),  1  Sub-Director, 

1  Secretario,  3  Inspectors,  and  32  Policemen. 
Cojutepeque :  1  Director,  2  Inspectors,  and  25  Policemen. 
Atiquizaya :    1   Director,   1   Inspector   Secretario,   1    Sub-Inspector   (or 

Second  Inspector),  and  15  Policemen. 

San  Vicente  :  1  Comandante  (Director),  3  Inspectors,  and  21  Policemen. 
Ahuachapan  :  1  Director,  1  Secretario,  3  Inspectors,  and  27  Policemen. 
Chalchuapa    has    two   Zones,  which    are  policed  as   follows :    First  : 

1  Director,  2  Inspectors,  and  27  Policemen.     Second :  1   Director, 

2  Inspectors,  and  18  Policemen. 

Santa  Ana  :  1  Director,  1  Sub-Director,  1  Secretario,  1  Guarda-Almacen, 
2  Escribientes,  150  Policemen,  1  Comandante  de  Dragones,  1  Ser- 
geant, and  40  Mounted  Men. 

San  Miguel :  1  Director,  1  Sub-Director,  4  Inspectors,  and  57  Policemen. 

La  Union  :  1  Director,  1  Sub-Director,  3  Inspectors,  and  40  Policemen. 

Zacatecoluca :  1  Director,  2  Inspectors,  and  18  Policemen. 

The  total  personnel  of  the  Salvadorean  Police  Force 
is  as  follows  : 

In  the  Capital  (including  the  Superior  Officers  above 

mentioned)  ...  ...  ...  ...  454  men. 

New  San  Salvador  (Santa  Tecla)  ...  ...  43 

Sonsonate        ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  38 

Cojutepeque    ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  28 

Atiquizaya       ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  18 

San  Vicente    ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  25 

Ahuachapan    ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  32 

Chalchuapa     ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  20 

Usulutan         ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  21 

Santa  Ana       ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  174 

San  Miguel      ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  63 

La  Union         ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  51 

Zacatecoluca  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  21 

Total  988  men. 


26    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

The  Government  of  Salvador  are  of  opinion,  and 
very  rightly  so  to  my  thinking,  that  inasmuch  as 
education  is  compulsory  it  ought  to  be  free,  since 
the  State,  by  depriving  parents  of  the  labour  of  their 
children,  entails  some  sacrifices  on  them.  It  has  also 
relieved  them  of  the  burden  of  paying  any  kind  of 
school  fees  ;  and  this  in  a  country  like  Salvador,  which 
possesses  naturally  a  great  proportion  of  humble  in- 
habitants, to  whom  the  payment  of  even  the  lightest 
fees  would  appear  an  immense  taxation,  means  a  great 
deal.  To  organize  a  system  of  collecting  fees  from 
among  the  people  living  long  distances  from  the 
Capital  would  also  have  been  onerous ;  and  the 
Government  saves  all  this,  and  many  other  outlays, 
while  procuring  the  best  results  from  its  educational 
system.  The  benefits  arising,  moreover,  will  be  reaped 
by  future  generations,  since  a  liberal  education  is  a 
matter  in  which  all  citizens  are  interested ;  and  there 
is  certainly  no  hardship  in  calling  upon  all  to  con- 
tribute by  means  of  a  moderate  tax  towards  that 
end. 

As  I  have  said,  the  happiest  results  have  been 
achieved  by  the  Government's  broad  and  comprehen- 
sive system  of  education  in  Salvador.  The  authorities 
combine  with  the  municipalities  in  carrying  out  their 
arrangements,  and  the  teachers  of  both  sexes  are 
drawn  from  among  the  best  and  most  cultured  classes 
of  the  community. 

There  has  been  established  since  July,  1907,  a  Board 
of  Education  (Junta  de  Educaci6n),  which  is  subject  to 
the  directorship  of  a  specially-appointed  Minister  and 
Sub-Secretario  of  Public  Instruction.  In  the  month 
of  November,  1907,  an  important  conference  was 
summoned,  and  held  meetings  at  the  Capital,  at  which 


EDUCATION  27 

the  curriculum  to  be  adopted  was  fully  discussed,  and 
the  plans  for  the  carrying  on  of  all  places  of  private 
and  public  education  was  entirely  reorganized.  The 
whole  system  of  conducting  elementary,  normal,  and 
advanced  schools,  holding  day  and  night  classes,  grant- 
ing scholarships  and  holding  periodical  examinations, 
has  now  been  placed  upon  a  thoroughly  sound  and 
comprehensive  basis ;  and  it  is  only  just  to  say  that 
in  this  respect  the  Republic  of  Salvador  compares 
most  favourably  with  any  country  in  Europe,  or  with 
any  educational  system  in  the  United  States  of 
America. 

The  education  of  the  sexes  is  conducted  in  the  same 
elementary  schools,  and  not  only  is  this  found  an 
economy,  but  the  feminine  mind  is  found  here  (as  in 
Scotland  and  elsewhere)  to  become  strengthened  when 
put  through  the  curriculum  given  to  boys  and  men. 
Competition  is  greater  between  the  sexes  than  between 
rivals  of  the  same  sex,  and  a  correspondingly  higher 
standard  of  achievement  is  obtained.  It  has  been 
found  in  Latin  America,  where  until  recent  years 
women  were  kept  in  ignorance  and  were  denied  the 
attainment  of  any  but  social  positions  in  the  com- 
munity, that  constant  intercourse  between  the  sexes 
had  led  to  a  more  perfect  development  of  character, 
and  had  materially  diminished  shyness.  Marriages 
are  now  made  of  a  safer  kind,  and  a  new  and  more 
intelligent  class  of  citizen  is  springing  up,  all  of  which 
facts  will  tend  in  due  course  to  bring  about  a  more 
complete  political  settlement  and  the  introduction  of 
permanent  order  among  the  people.  Although  by  no 
means  as  yet  extinct,  the  conventual  existence  for  the 
women  of  Salvador  is  fast  diminishing,  and  they  are 
commencing  to  realize  the  advantages  and  pleasures 


28     SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

of  living  under  freer  and  less  morbid  conditions  than 
formerly. 

Santa  Ana  seems  to  be  essentially  the  educational 
centre  of  the  Republic  ;  for  whereas  schools,  colleges, 
and  Universities  are  to  be  found  in  all  of  the  Depart- 
ments, in  Santa  Ana  there  are  no  fewer  than  thirty- 
three  such  establishments,  besides  several  private  schools 
and  seminaries.  San  Salvador  has  between  6  and  7  im- 
portant educational  institutes,  and  many  small  private 
schools ;  Cuscutlan  has  8  or  9  ;  La  Paz,  7  or  8  ;  Son- 
sonate,  5  or  6  ;  while  Ahuachapan,  Chalatenango, 
Cabanas,  San  Vicente,  La  Union,  Morazan,  and  La 
Libertad,  are  all  similarly  well  provided. 

The  teaching  staff  at  present  employed  under 
Government  control  numbers  something  over  1,100, 
and  is  divided  up  into  Directors,  Sub-Directors,  Auxil- 
iary Professors,  these  being  composed  of  both  the 
male  and  the  female  sex.  These  latter  are  in  a  small 
minority,  but,  still,  there  are  over  278  Lady  Directors, 
over  120  Sub- Directors,  and  100  Professors. 

The  proportion  of  pupils  matriculating  is  extremely 
high,  and  in  this  respect  the  girls  come  very  close  in 
point  of  number,  as  also  in  the  number  of  marks 
obtained,  to  the  boys.  The  Government  provides  all  the 
necessary  books,  stationery,  models,  apparatus,  etc.,  for 
the  use  of  the  pupils,  and  these  latter  are  not  put  to  one 
penny  expenditure  for  anything  that  they  may  require. 
It  is  considered  absolutely  proper  and  consistent  with 
the  dignity  of  the  family  for  a  Salvadorean  child  to 
receive  a  Government  free  education ;  and  as  this 
is  divorced  from  all  compulsory  religious  instruction, 
children  of  all  denominations,  or  of  none,  can  partici- 
pate. As  a  matter  of  fact,  practically  all  attending 
are  of  the  Roman  Catholic  faith,  but  no  dogmatic 


THE  3RD  COMPANY,  SERGEANTS'  SCHOOL,  IN  REVIEW  ORDER. 


COMPANY  IN  LINE,  SERGEANTS'  SCHOOL. 


SECTION  OF  RIFLEMEN  KNEELING,  SERGEANTS'  SCHOOL 


PRIMARY  INSTRUCTION  29 

teaching  is  resorted  to  in  any  establishment  under 
Government  control. 

Mention  should  be  made  of  the  very  useful  and 
successful  educational  establishments  which  the  Govern- 
ment has  organized  and  supported  since  1907,  such  as 
the  Medical  and  Surgical  College,  Chemistry  and 
Dental  Schools,  Commerce  and  Industry  College,  as 
well  as  the  National  University,  which  has  been 
entirely  remodelled  and  reorganized  since  December  15, 
1907.  " 

Upon  several  occasions  the  Government  has  found 
the  necessary  money  to  send  a  particularly  promising 
pupil  to  Europe  or  to  the  United  States,  for  the 
purposes  of  study  and  receiving  the  finest  training 
that  the  world  of  art  and  letters  can  offer.  The  last 
pupil  to  be  sent  to  study  music  at  the  expense  of  the 
Government  was  Sefiorita  Natalia  Ramos,  who  left  for 
Italy  in  the  month  of  May  (1911),  and  is  now  making 
good  progress  there.  In  every  sense  of  the  word  the 
Salvadorean  Government  has  proved  a  "  paternal 
Government "  in  these  respects  ;  and  many  a  genius 
has  been  rescued  from  probable  obscurity,  and  much 
dormant  talent  has  been  fostered  and  encouraged  for 
the  benefit  of  the  community  at  large  as  well  as  to  the 
lasting  advantage  of  the  individual. 

Attention  on  the  part  of  the  Government  is  now 
being  given  to  a  further  modification  in  the  system 
of  primary  instruction ;  and  this  is  being  effected 
gradually,  it  being  proposed  as  a  preliminary  to 
establish  several  high  schools  throughout  the  country. 
A  School  of  Agriculture,  with  all  necessary  elements 
and  machinery,  was  inaugurated  during  the  year  1908. 
Mixed  primary  schools  in  the  country  now  number  132, 
with  a  total  number  of  registered  pupils  amounting  to 


30     SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

34,752.  Expenditures  for  1907  under  this  head  were 
nearly  $400,000,  and  in  addition  there  are  many 
private  institutions  where  primary  instruction  only 
is  given.  Academic  teaching  is  in  the  charge  of 
the  National  University  of  San  Salvador,  embracing 
schools  of  law,  medicine,  pharmacy,  dentistry,  civil 
engineering,  etc. 

In  no  other  part  of  the  Government  service  has 
greater  improvement  been  manifested  than  in  the 
Department  of  Posts.  This  Department  is  supported 
out  of  its  own  revenues,  and  the  service  during  the 
past  few  years  has  been  extended  to  a  very  consider- 
able extent,  while  the  credit  of  the  Central  Office  has 
been  maintained  by  punctuality  in  the  payments  of 
the  foreign  postal  service.  Among  the  more  notable 
Conventions  celebrated  have  been  those  with  the 
Kepublic  of  Mexico  for  the  exchange  of  parcels  and 
money  orders,  and  a  triweekly  postal  service  intro- 
duced to  the  neighbouring  Republic  of  Guatemala  via 
Jerez ;  a  postal  service  has  also  been  established  with 
the  same  country  via  Zacapa.  It  is  satisfactory  to  be 
able  to  state  that  since  the  inauguration  of  these 
additional  services,  which  took  place  early  in  1907, 
scarcely  any  interruptions  have  occurred,  not  even  in 
the  rainiest  weather,  a  fact  which  may  be  attributed 
to  the  zeal  and  ability  of  the  officials  and  employes  of 
the  Postal  Department. 

The  annual  expenditure  of  this  branch  of  the  public 
service  has  increased  from  $87,084  in  1902,  $102,787 
in  1903,  $121,756  in  1904,  $142,855  in  1905,  $161,662 
in  1906,  to  over  $200,000  in  1910.  The  regularity 
and  rapidity  with  which  the  house-to-house  postal 
deliveries  take  place  in  the  Capital  and  principal  cities 
of  the  Republic  have  frequently  been  noticed,  and 


TELEGRAPHS  AND  TELEPHONES       21 

favourably  commented  upon,  by  foreigners  sojourning 
in  Salvador.  Honesty  among  the  employes  is  no  less 
a  feature  of  the  postal  arrangements  in  this  Republic, 
where  all  public  servants  are  reasonably  paid  and  are  as 
diplomatically  handled,  so  that  general  contentment 
obtains  among  the  large  class  of  public  servants 
employed. 

The  Parcel  Post  Department  is  also  exhibiting  from 
year  to  year  notable  increases,  as  the  following  figures 
will  show:  $44,613.55  in  1901;  $58,096.27  in  1902; 
$68,467.30  in  1903;  $88,557.60  in  1904;  $90,662.72 
in  1905;  $93,295.80  in  1906;  and  for  the  first  six 
months  in  1907  the  figures  given  are  $51,654.86,  or  at 
the  rate  of  $103,000  for  the  whole  year. 

A  Postal  Convention  for  the  exchange  of  money 
orders  between  Salvador  and  Great  Britain  was  signed 
in  London  on  June  27,  1907,  in  San  Salvador  on  the 
following  August  27,  1907,  and,  after  being  approved 
by  the  President,  General  Figueroa,  took  effect  on 
September  5,  1907,  the  exchange  offices  being  situated 
at  San  Salvador  and  London  respectively. 

The  telegraph  and  telephone  service  has  also 
increased  consistently,  especially  since  1903,  at  which 
time  as  an  economic  measure,  and  for  the  convenience 
of  the  public,  a  considerable  reduction  took  place  in 
the  amounts  of  the  charges.  There  has  been  a  large 
increase  in  telephonic  connections,  and  several  new 
offices  have  been  established,  while  the  old  ones  have 
been  considerably  improved,  necessitating  large  out- 
lays for  this  purpose,  as  well  as  for  works  and 
materials.  Many  hundreds  of  miles  of  new  telephone 
and  telegraph  lines  have  been  added  to  the  system,  of 
late  there  has  been  a  marked  increase  in  the  telephone 
and  telegraph  apparatus,  and  the  personnel  of  the  system 


32     SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

has  been  porportionately  augmented.  There  have  been 
two  handsome  towers  constructed  at  San  Salvador,  and 
another  at  Santa  Ana,  for  the  introduction  of  wires  to 
the  Central  Offices,  and  the  system  in  vogue  leaves 
little  to  be  desired  either  in  regard  to  efficiency  or  com- 
pleteness. The  general  budget  for  telegraphs  and  tele- 
phones has  risen  steadily,  from  a  little  over  $260,000, 
in  1902,  to  over  $500,000,  in  1910. 

During  the  year  1910  the  number  of  cablegrams 
received  in  the  Republic  were  as  follows :  Cables  sent 
from  Salvador,  7,877  ;  received  in  the  Republic,  8,723. 
In  those  transmitted  there  were  used  61,727  words, 
and  in  those  received  75,950.  Total  of  cables  sent 
and  received,  16,600  =  137,677  words.  The  amount 
represented  in  cost  was  $96,450.47,  and  of  this  the 
Government  received  $23,994.27. 

Considerable  progress  has  been  made  in  Salvador  in 
connection  with  wireless  telegraphy,  this  being  one  of 
the  first — if  not  the  first — of  the  Central  American 
Republics  to  adopt  the  new  system  of  communication. 
By  the  time  these  pages  are  in  the  hands  of  the  read- 
ing public,  the  Government  will  have  completed  two 
additional  wireless  stations,  one  at  Planes  de  Renderos, 
near  the  Capital  (San  Salvador),  and  the  other  at  the 
Port  of  La  Libertad.  With  the  completion  of  these 
stations,  wireless  communication  will  have  been  estab- 
lished between  the  Capital  and  all  the  ports  of  the 
Republic. 

The  electric  light  service  used  and  supported  by  the 
Government  has  also  increased.  In  1902  the  total 
cost  was  barely  $25,000,  whereas  to-day  it  amounts  to 
over  $50,000,  exclusive  of  the  value  of  subventions  by 
which  several  of  the  electric  light  companies  have  been 
aided  by  the  Government. 


THE  POSTAL  SERVICE  33 

In  connection  with  the  recently  -  held  Central 
American  Conference  convened  in  Guatemala  City,  and 
at  which  representatives  of  all  five  Central  American 
States  were  present,  great  improvements  were  resolved 
upon  in  reference  to  the  postal  arrangements  between 
these  States.  It  was  determined,  for  instance,  to 
introduce  a  much  more  comprehensive  parcels  post ; 
and  although  the  dimensions  of  articles  which  may  be 
sent  were  not  much  extended,  the  character  of  the 
commerce  carried  through  the  post  was  considerably 
broadened,  with  beneficial  results  to  all  of  the  different 
States.  It  was,  among  other  things,  decided  to  pre- 
vent any  libellous  or  indecent  publications  passing 
through  the  Post- Office ;  and  here  a  distinct  improve- 
ment has  been  made  upon  British  Post-Office  methods, 
which  permit  of  the  carrying  of  any  sort  of  literature 
so  long  as  it  is  covered  from  inspection.  The  Central 
American  postal  authorities  reserve  the  right — and 
exercise  it — to  open  and  retain  anything  which  they 
suspect  to  be  of  a  dangerous  or  wrongful  nature,  and 
thus  they  act  with  more  intelligence  than  some  of  their 
European  brethren. 

The  Regulation  for  the  Control  of  the  Postal  Service, 
as  passed  by  the  Government  on  September  26, 
1893,  was  found  wholly  unfit  for  this  important 
branch ;  and  from  that  date  to  the  present,  continual 
reforms  have  been  introduced  into  the  postal  service, 
which  now  stands  among  the  best  regulated  in  Central 
America.  In  the  Fiscal  Estimate  of  the  year  1907, 
passed  by  the  National  Congress,  several  notable 
economies  were  introduced,  such  as  the  suppression  of 
some  of  the  too  numerous  employes,  and  reduction  of 
the  salaries  of  others ;  while  these  measures  seemed 
opportune,  they  did  not  work  well  in  practice,  neither 

3 


34    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

did  they  give  good  results.  The  Ministry  was  obliged, 
therefore,  to  again  make  alterations  in  order  to  insure 
permanent  order  in  the  postal  department. 

By  a  resolution  of  September  28  and  October  24 
respectively,  the  Government  arranged  to  suppress 
the  office  of  Administrator  of  the  Post-Offices  in  the 
different  Capitals  of  the  Departments,  joining  the 
functions  of  that  to  those  of  the  Administrator  of 
Revenues,  but  without  augmenting  the  pay  for  this 
additional  service.  From  this  arrangement,  however, 
the  offices  of  Santa  Ana,  Sonsonate,  and  San  Miguel, 
were  excepted,  while  some  others  were  annexed  to  the 
Department  of  the  Fiscal  Receiver  and  to  the  respec- 
tive telegraph -offices. 

At  present  the  active  staff  of  the  Postal  Service  of 
the  Republic  is  composed  of  327  individuals,  organized 
in  the  following  departments :  General  Direction  ; 
Departmental  Administrations ;  Postal  Contractors. 
The  General  Direction  is  subdivided  thus :  Sub-Direc- 
tion ;  Secretary ;  Bookkeeper  and  Cashier ;  Office  of 
Postal  Statistics  ;  Keeper  of  Stores  ;  Amanuensis  ;  and 
Keeper  of  the  Archives.  The  Chiefs  are  those  of  the 
Foreign  Department,  of  the  Interior,  of  Registered 
Letters,  of  Parcels  Post,  and  of  Poste  Restante  and 
Unclaimed  Letters  Department.  There  are  besides 
five  Assistants,  two  Transmitters  of  Postal  Specie, 
twenty  -  two  letter  -  carriers,  and  forty  -  eight  junior 
postmen. 

The  Exchange  Offices  include  three  Administrators, 
three  Superintendents,  and  six  letter-carriers.  Those 
of  the  first  class  are — six  Administrators,  six  super- 
intendents, sixteen  letter-carriers,  and  twenty-five 
postmen.  Those  of  the  second  class  are — six  Admini- 
strators and  eight  letter-carriers.  Those  of  the  third 


EXCHANGE  OFFICES 


35 


class  are — nineteen  Administrators  and  an  equal 
number  of  letter-carriers.  Those  of  the  fourth  class 
are — forty-three  Administrators  and  forty-three  letter- 
carriers  ;  and  these  are  again  sub- administered  by  the 
respective  municipalities.  There  are  seven  Postal 
Contractors,  who  have  in  their  service  some  forty  or 
fifty  subordinates.  Three  Postal  Agencies  complete 
the  service,  namely — one  in  Panama  (Central  America), 
one  in  the  Sitio  del  Nino  (a  station  on  the  Salvador 
Railway),  and  the  other  in  Parras  Lempa. 


CHAPTER  III 

Biographical — The  President,  Dr.  Manuel  E.  Araujo — The  ex-President, 
General  Fernando  Figueroa — The  Cabinet — Dr.  Francisco  Duenas — 
Don  Eafael  Guirola,  D. —  Dr.  Teodosio  Corranza  —  Dr.  Manuel 
Castro,  E. — Dr.  Cecilio  Bustamente — Senor  Jose  Maria  Peralta  Lagos 
— Dr.  Jose"  A.  Castro,  V. — Dr.  E.  Bracamonte — Dr.  Miguel  Duenas — 
Senor  Carlos  G.  Prieto — Dr.  Artiiro  Ramon  Avila. 

DR.  MANUEL  ENRIQUE  ARAUJO,  President  of  the 
Republic  of  Salvador,  although  a  comparatively  young 
man,  has  long  been  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  dis- 
tinguished scholars  and  politicians  of  his  time.  Born 
at  Jucuapa,  he  came  at  a  very  early  age  to  the  Capital, 
in  order  to  study  medicine  and  surgery,  and  very  soon 
he  secured  a  wide  reputation — extending,  indeed, 
beyond  the  confines  of  his  own  country — as  a  great 
authority  upon  special  medical  and  surgical  cases. 
While  still  quite  young,  Dr.  Manuel  Araujo  was 
married  to  Senorita  Maria  Peralta,  the  beautiful  and 
accomplished  daughter  of  a  former  President  of  the 
Republic,  Don  Jos£  Maria  Peralta,  a  man  who  enjoyed 
universal  respect  and  affection. 

The  young  politician  was  always  a  strong  Liberal 
in  politics,  but  he  never  permitted  party  spirit 
to  prejudice  him  in  respect  to  his  public  actions, 
which  have,  both  before  and  since  his  occupancy  of 
the  Chief  Magistracy,  been  characterized  by  complete 
independence  of  judgment  and  commendable  broad- 
mindedness.  Besides  being  the  selected  occupant  of 

36 


PRESIDENT  ARAUJO  37 

the  Presidential  Chair  by  practically  all  political 
parties  alike,  Dr.  Araujo  is  regarded  as  the  representa- 
tive of  both  the  culture  and  the  scientific  professionalism 
of  the  country.  As  already  mentioned,  he  is  a  very 
distinguished  surgeon ;  he  has  also  invented  some 
very  delicate  and  useful  surgical  instruments,  many  of 
which  may  be  found  in  the  Paris  and  Continental 
hospitals.  The  Chief  Executive  occupies  the  position 
of  President  of  the  Salvador  Branch  of  the  Spanish- 
American  University.  In  social  as  well  as  in  educa- 
tional circles,  Dr.  Araujo  is  highly  respected,  apart  from 
his  exalted  position  ;  and  to  foreigners  he  is  especially 
persona  grata,  on  account  of  his  broad  sympathies  and 
general  charm  of  manner.  It  will  be  entirely  contrary 
to  general  expectations  and  present  appearances  if, 
during  his  tenancy  of  the  Chief  Magistracy,  Salvador 
fails  to  enjoy  a  great  industrial  peace  and  prosperity, 
as  well  as  a  financial  regeneration,  such  as  has  long 
been  devised  to  place  this  State  in  the  fore-rank  of 
Latin-American  countries. 

While  politics  in  Salvador,  as  in  so  many  other' 
countries  north  and  south  of  the  Equator,  have  come 
to  be  regarded  as  a  profession,  Dr.  Araujo  has  shown 
that  he  has  considered  them  as  accessories  rather  than 
expedients,  and  has  carried  out  in  principle  the  axiom 
that  "  he  serves  his  party  best  who  serves  his  country 
best."  Inasmuch  as  Dr.  Araujo  occupied  the  position 
of  Vice-President  of  the  Republic  in  the  Government 
of  General  Fernando  Figueroa,  it  may  be  assumed  that 
he  has  been  in  thorough  accord  with  his  policy  ;  and 
now  that  he  himself  occupies  the  same  exalted  office, 
no  great  change  in  the  Government's  projects  or 
methods  of  carrying  them  into  effect  will  result. 
That  some  of  the  youngest  men  have  proved  the 


38    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

greatest  statesmen  history  clearly  shows ;  and  the 
nstance  may  be  cited  of  our  own  brilliant  countryman, 
William  Pitt,  himself  a  son  of  the  great  Earl  of 
Chatham,  who  made  his  first  speech  in  the  House  of 
Commons  when  he  was  but  twenty-two  years  of  age, 
and  became  Prime  Minister  at  the  age  of  twenty-three. 
It  is  the  young  blood  and  youthful  activity  which  are 
helping  to  mould  a  successful  future  for  the  Salvador 
of  to-day. 

By  authority  of  Article  68  of  the  Constitution,  the 
National  Legislative  Assembly  elected,  last  May, 
Senor  Carlos  Melendez,  Dr.  Fernando  Lopez,  and 
General  Juan  Amaya,  First,  Second  and  Third 
Designates  respectively,  to  succeed  to  the  Presidency 
of  the  Republic  in  case  of  a  vacancy  occurring  during 
the  present  term. 

General  Fernando  Figueroa,  President  of  the 
Republic  from  1907  to  1911,  was  born  in  San  Vicente. 
Even  when  a  small  boy  his  disposition  led  him  to  a 
military  career,  and  while  still  in  his  teens  he  enlisted 
in  the  ranks  of  the  Salvadorean  Army,  during  the 
memorable  struggle  with  Guatemala  of  1863.  Under 
the  command  of  General  Bracamonte,  he  became  a 
Lieutenant,  and  speedily  distinguished  himself  in  the 
field.  He  was  on  this  occasion  very  severely  wounded, 
and  also  was  specially  mentioned  in  despatches.  After 
the  death  of  General  Gerardo  Barrios,  and  the  election 
of  Dr.  Duenas  as  President,  young  Fernando  Figueroa 
was  given  his  captaincy.  He  was  mainly  instrumental 
in  organizing  the  militia,  and  in  1871  he  put  its 
capabilities  to  the  test  when  the  war  in  Honduras 
broke  out.  Upon  the  overthrow  of  the  Government  of 
Dr.  Duenas,  and  the  selection  of  Marshal  Santiago 
Gonzalez  as  Provisional  President,  peace  was  proclaimed 


GENERAL  FERNANDO  FIGUEROA,  PRESIDENT  OF  THE  REPUBLIC  OF  SALVADOR 

1907-1911. 


EX-PRESIDENT  FIGUEROA  39 

with  Honduras,  General  Medina  being  recognized  as 
legitimate  President,  and  young  Figueroa's  services 
were  temporarily  unneeded.  In  1872,  however,  Captain 
Figueroa  was  again  fighting  in  territory  belonging  to 
Honduras,  namely  at  Sabana  Grande  and  Santa 
Barbara,  his  gallant  services  at  the  first-named  place 
gaining  for  him  his  lieutenant-colonelcy.  In  the 
following  year,  1873,  Colonel  Figueroa  distinguished 
himself  in  a  third  expedition  against  Honduras,  at 
which  time  the  President  of  the  Republic  was  Senor 
Celio  Arias,  but  who,  by  Salvador's  aid,  was  dis- 
possessed of  the  Chief  Magistracy  in  favour  of  General 
Ponciano  Leiva.  Colonel  Figueroa's  bravery  at  the 
Battle  of  Amapala,  and  his  gallant  support  of  General 
Juan  Jose  Samayoa,  have  become  important  facts  in 
Salvadorean  history. 

This  same  year  he  was  appointed  Governor  of  his 
native  Department,  San  Vicente.  In  1876,  after  fresh 
exploits  in  the  field,  the  rising  young  soldier  became  a 
General,  and  with  this  military  advancement  he  assisted 
the  same  year  at  the  Battle  of  Pasaquina,  in  which  he 
was  once  again  seriously  wounded.  The  events  of  1876 
led  to  further  civil  war,  which  continued  with  but  few 
important  intervals  of  peace  until  1885,  and  during 
which  period  Marshal  Santiago  Gonzalez  fell  from  power, 
and  Dr.  Rafael  Zaldivar  replaced  him  as  President. 
At  this  time,  also,  General  J.  Rufino  Barrios  died  on 
the  battle-field  of  Chalchuapa,  and  General  Figueroa 
was  given  the  supreme  command  of  the  Government 
troops  against  the  Revolutionists,  who  were  headed  by 
General  Francisco  Menendez.  The  latter  having  suc- 
ceeded in  attaining  position  as  head  of  the  State, 
General  Figueroa  retired  temporarily  ;  but  he  returned 
with  the  inauguration  of  the  administration  of  General 


40    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

Carlos  Ezeta,  and  was  again  appointed  to  his  former 
post  of  Governor  of  San  Vicente.  Later  on  he  was 
nominated  Minister  of  War,  which  position  he  resigned 
upon  becoming  candidate  for  the  Presidency.  He  was 
duly  and  constitutionally  elected  in  November  of  1906, 
took  office  on  March  1, 1907,  and  retired  automatically 
with  the  fresh  elections  of  1910,  to  give  place  to  Dr. 
Manuel  Enrique  Araujo,  the  present  Chief  Magistrate. 

During  his  long  and  honourable  career,  General 
Figueroa  has  been  distinguished  as  much  for  his 
brilliant  soldier-like  qualities  as  for  his  personal  work 
and  high  sense  of  probity.  He  has  had — as  have  all 
great  men — his  enemies  and  his  detractors  ;  but  none 
among  them  can  bring — nor  ever  have  brought — any 
charge  against  his  personal  honour  or  integrity. 

It  was  his  keen  patriotism  and  shrewd  diplomacy 
which  arrested  the  three-cornered  armed  conflict  in 
which  Salvador,  Honduras,  and  Nicaragua,  were  con- 
cerned in  1907,  and  but  for  General  Figueroa's  tact 
and  good  sense,  coupled  with  his  masterly  grasp  of 
the  situation,  these  three  sister  States  would  have 
exhausted  themselves  over  a  dispute  which  was  prac- 
cally  worthless,  and  would  have  proved  just  as 
fruitless. 

The  Minister  for  Foreign  Affairs  is  Dr.  don  Francisco 
Duenas,  a  barrister,  and  a  very  distinguished  member 
of  the  profession.  Born  in  San  Salvador,  and  forty-three 
years  of  age,  Dr.  Duenas  has  occupied  several  important 
positions  in  the  legal  profession,  and  he  is  looked  upon 
as  one  of  the  soundest  authorities  on  commercial  and 
general  law.  The  Minister  is  regarded  as  an  extremely 
able  man,  who  is  bound  to  rise  to  the  highest  position 
which  the  State  can  confer  upon  him. 

The    Minister    of    Finance    is    Senor    don    Eafael 


THE  MINISTRY  41 

Guirola,  D.,  a  thoroughly  sound,  practical  business 
man,  with  a  wide  knowledge  of  finance  and  commerce 
in  all  its  branches  and  a  member  of  one  of  the  leading 
families.  He  may  be  depended  upon  to  adopt  a  com- 
prehensive and  intelligent  view  of  all  subjects  per- 
taining to  his  Department,  and  it  may  be  accepted  as 
certain  that  he  will  give  wide  encouragement  to  such 
foreign  enterprise  as  can  be  regarded  as  of  benefit  to 
the  State.  Senor  Eafael  Guirola,  D.,  is  forty-five 
years  of  age. 

The  Minister  of  the  Interior,  Industry  ("Fomento"), 
Public  Instruction  and  Agriculture,  Dr.  don  Teodosio 
Corranza,  is  also  one  of  the  most  prominent  lawyers  in 
the  Republic.  He  was  born  in  San  Salvador,  and  is 
about  fifty-two  years  of  age.  He  has  occupied  some 
of  the  most  important  and  responsible  posts  in  the 
country,  and  is  considered  by  all  alike  as  lending  both 
distinction  and  prominence  to  his  high  office. 

Dr.  don  Manuel  Castro,  R,  Sub-Secretary  of  State 
for  Foreign  Affairs,  is  a  barrister  by  profession,  and 
a  distinguished  member  of  the  Salvador  Academy. 
Although  only  twenty-seven  years  of  age,  Dr.  Castro 
has  already  filled  with  great  distinction  several 
important  positions  in  the  legal  profession,  and 
he  is  regarded  as  a  rising  "  star "  in  the  political 
firmament. 

The  portfolio  for  Home  Affairs  has  been  entrusted 
to  the  capable  hands  of  Dr.  Cecilio  Bustamente,  who 
is  also  a  distinguished  lawyer,  as  well  as  the  writer 
of  several  books  of  more  than  ordinary  merit.  On 
several  occasions  Dr.  Bustamente  has  occupied  a 
position  on  the  Bench,  his  judgments  and  rulings 
always  having  commanded  deep  respect,  and  invari- 
ably being  the  outcome  of  calm  consideration  and 


42    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

much    forensic   learning.      Dr.    Bustamente   is   about 
thirty-eight  years  of  age. 

Public  Instruction  is  under  the  direction  of  Dr.  Gus- 
tavo Bardn,  who  is  three  years  younger  than  Dr. 
Bustamente.  By  profession  he  is  a  physician  and 
surgeon,  having  taken  high  degrees  at  the  Paris 
University.  Before  entering  the  present  Cabinet, 
Dr.  Baron  served  as  teacher  of,  and  lecturer  upon, 
several  subjects  in  the  National  University  of  Salvador; 
and  there  is  probably  no  man  in  the  Republic  who 
enjoys  a  wider  respect  or  a  deeper  regard,  especially 
among  his  colleagues,  than  the  present  Sub- Secretary 
of  Instruction  and  Promotion. 

The  important  portfolio  of  Public  Works  has  been 
entrusted  to  the  hands  of  Senor  don  Jose  Maria 
Peralta  Lagos,  a  civil  engineer  of  great  reputation  in 
Central  America,  although  only  forty-two  years  of  age. 
For  many  years  past  Senor  Peralta  Lagos  has  been 
interested  in  engineering  undertakings,  and  there  can 
be  no  question  that  he  is  admirably  fitted  both  by 
experience  and  long  study  of  current  engineering 
subjects  for  the  high  and  responsible  position  which  he 
occupies. 

The  portfolio  of  Justice  is  in  the  hands  of  Dr.  don 
Josd  Antonio  Castro,  V.,  a  young  but  very  brilliant 
man,  his  age  being  only  twenty-eight  years,  and  who 
is  a  barrister  by  profession. 

War  and  Marine  are  represented  by  Don  Eusebio 
Bracamonte,  a  counsel  of  great  reputation,  and  who 
for  a  considerable  time  occupied  the  position  of  Chief 
Justice  of  the  High  Court  of  Salvador.  Dr.  Braca- 
monte is  forty-three  years  of  age. 

The  portfolio  of  Agriculture  is  in  the  hands  of 
Don  Miguel  Duenas,  who  has  devoted  many  years  to 


MINISTRY  OF  AGRICULTURE  43 

a  careful  study  of  agriculture  in  all  its  branches,  and 
has,  from  his  experience  and  the  careful  observation  of 
the  methods  employed  in  foreign  countries,  intimately 
acquainted  himself  with  all  modern  methods,  many  of 
which  he  has  personally  introduced  upon  his  own 
country  estates.  Senor  Duenas,  who  is  forty  years  of 
age,  has  travelled  very  considerably  in  the  United 
States  and  in  Europe,  and  he  speaks  both  English 
and  French  with  considerable  facility.  For  some 
years  past  he  has  been  a  Member  of  Congress,  while 
he  is  also  the  Founder  and  the  President  of  the 
Salvadorean  Chamber  of  Commerce  and  Agriculture, 
an  institution  which  has  already  conferred  considerable 
benefits  upon  the  State. 

Senor  Carlos  G.  Prieto,  Sub-Secretary  of  Finance 
and  Public  Credit,  is  forty-five  years  of  age,  and  a 
sound  authority  upon  finance  and  commerce  generally. 

It  is  worthy  of  mention  that  the  Ministry  of  Agri- 
culture in  Salvador  is  an  entirely  new  creation,  and 
owes  its  existence  to  the  ruling  President,  Dr.  Manuel 
E.  Araujo.  Considering  the  immense  interest  which 
Salvador  has  in  agriculture,  and  bearing  in  mind  the 
fact  that  upon  its  intelligent  pursuit  depends,  to  a 
very  large  extent,  the  prosperity  of  the  country,  it 
is  surprising  that  a  Department  for  Agriculture  should 
not  have  been  previously  instituted.  This  is  probably 
due  to  the  fact  that  the  late  Ministry  was  disinclined 
to  add  further  to  the  burden  of  expenditure  in  con- 
nection with  the  government  of  the  country ;  but  the 
additional  expenditure  incurred  in  the  establishment 
of  this  Department  has  been  abundantly  justified  by 
results,  and  there  is  very  little  question  that,  if  for 
nothing  else,  the  Presidency  of  Dr.  Araujo  will  stand 
out  prominently  in  connection  with  a  governmental 


44     SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

creation  which  has  long  been  needed,  and  which  is 
already  proving  thoroughly  useful. 

A  new  branch  of  the  Government  service  has  been 
established  within  the  past  few  months  in  the  form  of 
an  Information  Bureau,  which  should  prove  of  great 
utility  to  manufacturers  and  shippers,  if  they  desire 
to  avail  themselves  of  it.  Already  several  North 
American  firms  have  done  so,  and,  as  I  understand, 
with  some  material  advantage,  the  existence  of  the 
department  having  been  brought  to  the  attention  of 
United  States  commercial  men  by  the  very  up-to-date 
and  shrewd  American  Consul-General  at  San  Salvador, 
Mr.  Harold  D.  Clum.  I  have  not  heard  that  any 
attention  has  been  directed  to  the  institution  by  the 
British  Board  of  Trade. 

The  Salvador  Congress  authorized,  and  the  Ministry 
of  Agriculture  maintains,  this  Information  Bureau,  to 
report  upon  the  orders  which  the  various  departments 
of  the  Government  may  consider  it  expedient  to 
place  abroad  or  upon  the  home  market.  The  law 
provides  that  Government  orders  shall  be  placed  only 
after,  and  presumably  upon  the  basis  of,  a  report  from 
this  Bureau ;  so  that  it  is  a  distinct  advantage  to 
manufacturers  and  others,  who  desire  to  market  goods 
in  which  the  Government  might  be  interested,  to  send 
their  catalogues  (but  printed  in  Spanish,  and  not  in 
English)  with  price  lists  (but  calculated  in  decimal 
measurements  and  coinage,  and  not  in  "  £  s.  d."),  as 
well  as  their  proposals,  to  the  Bureau.  All  such  com- 
munications should  be  addressed  :  "  Oficina  de  Infor- 
maci6n,  Ministerio  de  Agricultura,  San  Salvador."  And 
let  it  be  remembered  that  the  postage  upon  letters 
is2id.! 

The  young  and  vigorous  blood  of  which  the  Sal- 


DR.  AVILA  45 

vadorean  Cabinet  is  composed  is  perhaps  one  of  its 
strongest  and  most  promising  features,  and  the  excel- 
lent impression  which  its  formation  created  last  March 
has  been  confirmed  in  every  way  since  it  got  to  work 
and  proved  the  quality  of  its  members  for  governing 
the  country  wisely  and  economically. 

It  would,  under  ordinary  circumstances,  perhaps  be 
difficult  to  replace  the  valuable  services  which,  for 
fifteen  years  past,  have  been  rendered  by  Mr.  Mark 
Jamestown  Kelly,  F.R.G.S.,  as  Consul- General  for  the 
Republic  of  Salvador  to  the  United  Kingdom,  with 
residence  in  London,  and  to  whom  full  reference  has 
been  made  in  a  preceding  page;  but  it  will  be 
generally  admitted  that  the  Government  has  made  a 
very  wise  and  a  very  acceptable  selection  in  Dr.  Artiiro 
Ramon  Avila.  The  new  Consul-General  is  a  native  of 
San  Miguel,  and  belongs  to  one  of  the  leading  families 
of  the  country,  and  occupying  a  very  high  social 
position  in  the  Republic. 

Although  only  twenty-seven  years  of  age,  Dr.  Avila 
has  already  attained  some  celebrity  in  his  own  country, 
and  has  received  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  the  Faculty 
of  Jurisprudence,  a  title  which  was  conferred  upon  him 
by  the  National  University  of  Salvador.  In  1907 
one  of  Dr.  Avila's  most  notable  achievements  was  the 
composition  of  a  "  paper "  which  he  read  before  the 
Tribunal  of  Examination,  this  being  a  learned  thesis 
upon  the  subject  of  "  The  Duel"  ("El  Duelo"),  con- 
sisting of  100  pages,  and  pronounced  by  literary 
critics  as  about  the  most  clever  and  most  convincing 
essay  which  had  been  written  upon  the  subject. 

Previous  to  entering  upon  his  profession  as  an 
advocate,  Dr.  Avila  served  as  a  Justice  of  the  Peace 
for  one  year  in  the  Capital  of  Salvador,  being  later  on 


46    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTtJRY 

appointed  Judge  of  the  First  Instance.  He  occupied 
a  similar  position  in  the  Civil  and  Criminal  Courts  of 
Santa  Teda  (New  San  Salvador),  and  hdd  that  post 
for  two  years.  Dr.  AvOa  had  also  for  some  time  been 
advocate  -in  -chief  for  the  Banco  Salvadoreno,  of 
Salvador,  and  he  represented  legally  various  other 
reputable  houses  of  commerce.  Dr.  Avfla  holds  the 
position  of  Onsul-Geoml  of  the  Republic  of  Salvador 
for  Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  and  has  taken  con- 
venient offices  at  8,  Union  Court,  Old  Broad  Street, 
London,  KG 

Senor  Santiago  Perez  Iriana*  who  has  for  some  tin* 
been  a  resident  in  London,  entered  the  service  of  the 
Salvadorean  Government  as  Secretary  of  tike  Legation 
in  1900,  under  Dr.  ZaHivar,  and  accompanied  him  to 

December  of  that  year.  Senor  Perez  Triana's  capacity 
was  that  of  second  delegate  of  Salvador,  Dr.  Zaldrrar 
being  chief  of  the  Mission,  the  third  Attache,  who 
occupied  a  similar  position  to  that  of  Senor  Peres 
Triana,  bong  Senor  M.  Rodriguez  Subsequently 
Senor  Pert*  Triana  was  appointed  Secretary  of  the 
Legation  of  Salvador  in  Spain.  Since  1901,  when  he 
wont  to  the  last-named  country  to  reside,  he  occupied 


and  in  London;  and  he  still  occupies  a 
in  the  latter  city,  but  not  in  Spain.  In  1907  Senor 
Perea  Triana  was  appointed  Delegate  to  the  Hague 
Conference  for  Salvador,  jointly  with  Mr.  P.  J. 
Matheu.  He  k  a  quite  remarkable  orator  and  a  nan 
of  great  culture,  Rpnaking  English  with  complete 
accuracy  and  writing  it  with  equal  facility. 

In  connection  witii  the  Gxunriion  of  Their  MjgeatiaB 
King  George  and  Queen  Mary,  in  the  month  of  Ji 


DR.  ARTI'RO  RAMON  AVILA  ; 


CONSUL-GENERAL    FOR    THE    REPUBLIC   OF    SALVADOR   TO   GREAT    BRITAIN. 

APPOINTED  MAY,  191 1. 


SENOR  MIGUEL  DUESAS  47 

last,  the  Salvadorean  Government  sent  to  London 
an  Extraordinary  Mission  to  represent  the  Republic, 
selecting  for  the  purpose  Senor  J.  Miguel  Duenas 
who  by  birth  and  education  was  well  fitted  to  fill  so 
important  a  position.  Senor  Duenas  was  born  in  the 
city  of  San  Salvador  on  August  28,  1871,  and  is  a  son 
of  an  ex-President  of  Salvador,  Dr.  Francisco  Duenas, 
and  Donna  Teresa  Dardano.  After  a  brilliant  college 
career,  pursued  both  in  his  own  country,  in  the  United 
States,  and  in  Europe,  Senor  Duenas  returned  in  1895 
to  Salvador,  where  he  was  soon  afterwards  elected  by 
popular  vote  as  Deputy  to  the  National  Congress  of 
the  Republic.  He  also  became  an  active  member  of  the 
Municipal  Council,  and  is  the  Founder  and  President 
of  the  Salvador  Chamber  of  Commerce  and  Agriculture 
in  Salvador.  He  retains  his  position  as  Secretary  of 
State  for  the  Department  of  Agriculture,  which,  as 
mentioned  previously  in  this  volume,  was  brought  into 
existence  upon  the  initiative  of  the  present  President 
of  the  Republic,  Dr.  Manuel  Enrique  Araujo,  this 
being  one  of  his  first  official  acts  after  assuming 
the  Presidential  chair,  in  the  month  of  March  last. 
Accompanying  Senor  Duenas  was  his  wife,  Seiiora 
Donna  Maria  Eugenia  Palomo. 

The  new  Minister  of  Salvador  in  Spain  and  Italy, 
with  residence  at  Madrid,  is  Dr.  don  J.  Gustavo 
Guerrero,  who  was  for  many  years  Consul-General  for 
Salvador  at  Genoa,  and  acted  as  First  Secretary  of  the 
Special  Diplomatic  Mission  of  Salvador  to  the  Court  of 
St.  James  in  connection  with  the  Coronation  of  King 
George  V.  He  is  one  of  the  several  young  men  of 
great  promise  in  Salvador,  and  is  destined  to  go  far. 
He  is,  moreover,  a  distinguished  advocate,  having 
taken  high  degrees  at  the  Universities  of  San  Salvador 


48     SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

and  Guatemala  City.  He  has  acted  as  Deputy 
Governor  at  the  first-named  Capital,  as  well  as  Consul 
at  Burdeos,  Consul  at  Genoa,  Secretary  of  Legation 
at  Washington,  and  Charge  d'Affaires  at  Borne  and 
Madrid. 

In  the  month  of  May  last  (1911)  Senor  don  Nicolas 
Leiva  was  appointed  Consul  for  Salvador  at  Liverpool, 
which  port  carries  on  a  fair  amount  of  trade  with  the 
Republic. 


CHAPTER  IV 

Government  finances — London  Market  appreciation  of  Salvador  bonds 
— History  of  foreign  debt  —  Salvador  Railway  security  —  Central 
American  Public  Works  Company — Changing  the  guarantee — Finan- 
cial conditions  to-day — Public  debt  at  end  of  1909 — Budget  for 
1910-11 — Small  deficit  may  be  converted  into  a  surplus — Summary. 

THE  high  opinion  which  the  London  Market  entertains 
regarding  Salvadorean  Government  securities  is  shown 
by  the  price  at  which  they  are  quoted ;  and  although 
judged  upon  their  merits,  these  same  securities  are 
rather  too  cheaply  priced,  they  form  a  marked  contrast 
to  some  of  the  neighbouring  States'  foreign  loans,  such, 
for  instance,  as  Costa  Rica  and  Honduras.  As  a 
matter  of  fact,  the  Salvadorean  Governments  of  suc- 
cessive years  have  strictly  and  faithfully  performed 
their  foreign  obligations ;  and  it  has  been  the  firm 
policy  of  past  Presidents,  as  it  is  of  the  present 
Executive,  to  maintain  their  foreign  credit  upon  an 
unassailable  basis.  It  is  possible  to  speak  very  en- 
couragingly of  the  Salvador  6  per  cent.  Sterling  Bonds, 
which  were  issued  in  March,  1908,  at  86  per  cent.,  and 
which  are  at  the  present  time  of  writing  quoted  at  or  a 
little  above  par.  Their  desirability  as  an  investment 
depends  upon  the  standard  of  security  they  afford — on 
the  probability,  that  is,  that  Salvador  will  faithfully 
fulfil  its  obligations.  The  Salvador  Government  6  per 
cent.  Sterling  Bonds  (1908),  amounting  to  £1,000,000, 
were  issued  to  meet  the  cost  of  certain  public  works 
and  to  repay  certain  local  loans  contracted  at  a  higher 

49 


50    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

rate  of  interest.  The  loan  is  redeemable  by  an  accumu- 
lative sinking  fund  of  2J-  per  cent.,  by  purchase  or 
drawing,  and  is  secured  by  a  first  charge  on — (a)  the 
special  Customs  duty  of  $3.60  (U.S.  gold)  per  100  kilo- 
grammes of  imported  merchandise ;  and  (b)  the  duty 
of  40  cents  (U.S.  gold)  per  quintal  (up  to  500,000 
quintals)  of  the  annual  export  of  coifee,  the  proceeds 
of  which  are  remitted  fortnightly  to  the  London  Bank 
of  Mexico  and  South  America,  whose  Chairman  stated 
recently  that  "the  rapid  way  in  which  the  remittances 
are  coming  forward  is  very  satisfactory,  and  will,  no 
doubt,  in  time  improve  the  credit  of  this  small  but 
hard-working  country."  The  bonds  constitute  the 
whole  External  Debt  of  the  country,  previous  loans 
having  been  commuted  in  1899  for  debentures  of  the 
Salvador  Railway  Company,  to  which  the  Government 
pays  an  annual  subsidy  of  £24,000.  This  subsidy  has 
now  been  punctually  remitted  for  over  nine  years.  It 
is  on  such  grounds  as  these  that  the  friends  of  Salvador 
maintain  that  the  value  of  the  bonds  should  not  be 
gauged  by  the  financial  reputation  of  some  of  the 
other  Central  American  Republics. 

It  may  be  interesting  to  trace  the  whole  history  of 
Salvador's  foreign  indebtedness,  which  commenced  as 
far  back  as  1827.  The  record — by  no  means  an 
unworthy  one — is  as  follows  : 

1827  :  Of  the  debt  of  the  Central  American  Federa- 
tion— which  was  composed  of  Salvador,  Guatemala, 
Costa  Rica,  Honduras,  and  Nicaragua,  and  amounting 
to  £163,000 — the  proportion  which  was  assumed  by 
Salvador  was  one-sixth,  £27,200. 

1828-1859  :  No  interest  was  paid  during  this  long 
period  of  turbulence  and  strife. 

1860  :  Salvador  compromised  her  share  of  the  debt 
for  90  per  cent,  paid  in  cash. 


FINANCES  51 

1889  :  A  loan  for  £300,000  was  issued,  bearing  6  per 
cent,  interest  and  2  per  cent,  accumulative  sinking 
fund.  It  was  offered  by  the  London  and  South- 
Western  Bank  at  95  J  per  cent.,  and  was  specially 
secured  on  10  per  cent,  of  the  Customs  duties  and 
the  rights  of  the  Government  on  the  railway  from 
Acajutla  to  Ateos  (thirty-five  miles),  and  in  the  pro- 
posed extension  to  San  Salvador.  Out  of  the  proceeds 
of  the  loan  a  mortgage  of  the  Government's  interest  in 
the  portion  of  the  railroad  already  constructed  (Aca- 
jutla to  Sonsonate),  amounting  to  £183,000,  was  paid 
off.  The  extension  of  the  railway  was  only  continued 
for  a  distance  of  seven  miles  from  Ateos  to  La  Ceiba. 

1892:  Bonds  for  an  amount  of  £500,000,  bearing 
6  per  cent,  interest  and  1  per  cent,  accumulative  sinking 
fund,  were  created  by  the  Government  and  issued  by 
Messrs.  Brown,  Janson  and  Co.  to  the  contractor  Mr. 
A.  J.  Scherzer,  in  pursuance  of  a  contract  made  by  the 
Government  with  Mr.  Scherzer  in  1891,  for  the  purpose 
of  the  extension  of  the  railway.  These  bonds  were 
specially  secured  on  10  per  cent,  of  the  Customs  duties, 
and  also  by  a  first  mortgage  on  the  railway  line  from 
Ateos  to  Santa  Ana  (thirty  miles)  when  built.  These 
bonds  were  not  issued  to  the  public,  but  were  delivered 
from  time  to  time  to  the  contractor,  against  the 
engineer's  certificates,  as  the  works  proceeded. 

1894 :  A  company  called  the  Central  American 
Public  Works  Company  was  registered  by  Mr.  Mark  J. 
Kelly  in  London,  and  Mr.  Kelly  was  associated  with 
Mr.  Scherzer  in  carrying  out  this  contract,  and  in 
the  month  of  April  a  concession  was  obtained  from 
the  Government  under  which  the  contract  of  1891 
was  cancelled.  The  Central  American  Public  Works 
Company  undertook  to  complete  the  line  to  Santa 
Ana ;  to  build  a  branch  from  Sitio  del  Nino  to 


52    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

San  Salvador  (twenty-four  miles),  together  with  a 
deviation  of  one  and  a  half  miles  at  the  port  of 
Acajutla  ;  to  give  the  Government  £70,000  in  fully- 
paid  ordinary  shares  of  the  company  when  issued  ;  and 
to  redeem  the  loans  of  1889  and  1892.  The  Govern- 
ment, on  its  part,  agreed  to  hand  over  to  the  Company 
the  whole  of  the  railways  for  a  period  of  ninety-nine 
years,  and  to  guarantee  the  Company  for  fifty  years 
a  net  annual  profit  on  working  the  railways  of  6  per 
cent,  upon  the  sum  of  £800,000,  secured  by  a  charge 
of  10  per  cent,  on  the  import  duties. 

A  change  of  Government  took  place  almost  immedi- 
ately afterwards,  and,  owing  to  the  differences  which 
then  arose  between  the  Government  and  the  Com- 
pany, the  concession  was  declared  void. 

But  in  December  a  supplementary  contract  was 
entered  into  between  the  Company  and  the  new 
Government,  by  which  it  was  agreed  that — (1)  The 
£70,000  of  shares  of  the  Public  Works  Company  were 
to  be  delivered  to  the  Government  by  May  31,  1895 
(this  was  done,  and  the  Company  took  possession  of 
the  completed  portion  of  the  line  and  commenced  the 
construction  of  the  remainder) ;  (2)  the  duration  of 
the  concession  was  shortened  from  ninety-nine  to 
eighty  years ;  (3)  the  guarantee  was  reduced  from 
£48,000  a  year  to  £24,000  during  the  construction 
of  the  line  to  Santa  Ana,  £36,000  during  the  con- 
struction to  San  Salvador,  and  the  full  £48,000  was 
not  to  be  paid  until  the  railway  was  entirely  finished. 

1898  :  In  this  year  a  new  company,  called  the  Sal- 
vador Railway  Company,  Limited,  was  formed  to  take 
over  the  concession  from  the  Central  American  Public 
Works  Company.  Proposals  were  laid  before  the 
holders  of  the  1889  and  1892  loans  to  convert  their 
bonds  into  mortgage  debentures  of  the  railway  com- 


RAILWAY  FINANCE  53 

pany.  Some  of  the  1889  bondholders,  however,  declined 
to  signify  their  adherence  to  the  scheme,  and  it 
was  thus  found  impossible  to  arrange  for  the  release 
of  the  mortgage  on  the  first  section  of  the  railway. 
The  Central  American  Public  Works  Company  had, 
moreover,  undertaken  to  deliver  to  the  Government 
all  the  bonds  by  December,  1898  ;  they  therefore 
approached  the  Government  with  the  object  of  securing 
further  legislation  in  order  to  get  over  the  difficulty. 
In  this  they  were  not  at  the  time  successful,  and  the 
Government  declined  to  remit  to  the  company  the 
sum  due  under  the  guarantee  for  the  half-year  ending 
December  31,  1898.  The  funds  for  the  payment  of 
the  February  and  August,  1898,  coupons  on  the  1889 
bonds  were  sent  by  the  Government  direct  to  the 
London  and  South- Western  Bank.  The  November 
1897  drawing  and  May  1898  coupons  on  the  1892 
bonds,  and  the  July  1898  drawing  and  February  1899 
coupons  on  the  1889  bonds,  were  not  paid. 

1899  :  On  February  8  of  this  year  a  further  con- 
tract was  entered  into  between  the  Government  and 
Mr.  Kelly,  representing  the  Central  American  Public 
Works  Company,  of  which  the  following  were  the 
principal  provisions:  (1)  The  company  was  to  hand 
over  to  the  Government  for  cancellation  the  outstand- 
ing 1889  and  1892  bonds  (in  round  figures  amounting 
to  £725,000)  within  six  months  from  the  date  of 
ratification  of  the  contract  by  Congress.  The  company 
might,  however,  leave  outstanding  £60,000  of  the 
bonds  if  they  could  not  make  delivery  of  the  whole 
of  them,  but  on  these  they  were  to  pay  on  their  own 
account  the  same  interest  (6  per  cent.)  and  amortiza- 
tion (2  per  cent.),  as  the  Government  was  under 
obligation  to  do.  (2)  The  Government  was  to  pay 
the  company  for  eighteen  years  from  January  1,  1899, 


54,     SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

a  fixed  annual  subsidy  of  £24,000  in  lieu  of  the 
previous  guarantee,  and  to  hand  over  all  the  railways 
free  of  charge.  The  subsidy  was  to  be  secured  on 
1 5  per  cent,  of  the  import  duties,  in  respect  of  which 
the  Government  was  to  issue  special  Customs  notes. 
These  notes  were  to  be  handed  to  a  bank  named  by 
the  company,  who  were  to  sell  them  and  collect  the 
proceeds. 

The  railway  company  engaged  themselves  to  com- 
plete the  line  to  the  Capital  by  June  30,  1900.  If 
the  bonds  of  the  external  debt  were  not  handed  over 
within  the  period  stipulated,  the  Government  was 
to  have  the  right,  subject  to  existing  hypothecations, 
to  take  possession  of  the  railways. 

In  April,  1899,  an  agreement  was  entered  into 
between  the  Council  of  Foreign  Bondholders,  acting  in 
conjunction  with  the  Committee  of  1889  bondholders, 
and  the  Central  American  Public  Works  Company,  for 
the  transfer  to  the  Salvador  Eailway  Company  of  the 
railways  and  concessions  held  by  the  Works  Company, 
including  the  subsidy  payable  under  the  contract  of 
February  8,  1899,  on  such  terms  as  might  be  agreed 
between  the  Works  Company  and  the  railway  company. 
The  railway  company  were  to  issue  (l)  Prior  lien 
debentures  to  the  amount  of  £163,000,  forming  part 
of  a  total  authorized  issue  of  £250,000,  and  bearing 
5  per  cent,  interest  and  1  per  cent,  accumulative 
sinking  fund,  to  be  applied  by  purchase  or  drawings 
at  par.  Such  issue  to  be  for  the  purpose  of  providing 
the  funds  for  the  completion  of  railway,  repairs,  work- 
ing capital,  and  expenses ;  (2)  5  per  cent,  mortgage 
debentures  to  the  amount  of  £660,000,  to  provide  for 
the  cancellation  of  the  outstanding  bonds  of  the  1889 
and  1892  loans,  the  debentures  of  the  Public  Works 
Company  (£150,000),  and  other  claims. 


RAILWAY  FINANCE 


55 


These  debentures  were  to  be  redeemable  by  an 
accumulative  sinking  fund  of  1  per  cent,  per  annum, 
commencing  from  August  15,  1906,  to  be  applied  by 
purchases  or  drawings,  at  the  price,  in  the  case  of 
drawings,  of  £103  for  each  £100  of  debentures.  The 
holders  of  the  1889  bonds  were  to  receive,  in  respect 
of  each  £100  bond,  £100  in  mortgage  debentures  of 
the  railway  company,  bearing  interest  from  August  15, 
1899.  The  1889  bonds  were  deposited  with  the 
Council  against  the  issue  of  negotiable  receipts,  with 
two  coupons  of  £2  10s.  each  attached,  payable  out  of 
the  first  two  instalments  of  the  subsidy  in  respect 
of  the  coupons  on  each  bond  of  £100,  due  February  15 
and  August  15,  1899. 

This  arrangement  was  accepted  by  the  holders  of 
the  bonds  of  the  1889  and  1892  loans,  who  by  the 
necessary  majorities  authorized  the  trustees  of  the 
loans  to  release  the  respective  mortgages.  It  was  also 
approved  by  the  holders  of  the  debentures  of  the 
Public  Works  Company,  and  was  duly  carried  into 
effect. 

STATEMENT  OF    REVENUE   AND   EXPENDITURE   FOR   THE 
LAST  TEN  YEARS. 


Year. 

Revenue. 

Expenditure. 

Deficit. 

$ 

I 

9 

1901 

7,556,721.56 

7,284,264.51 

727,542.95 

1902 

6,702,021.70 

8,459,460.84 

1,757,439.14 

1903 

6,792,045.69 

7,704,756.34 

912,710.65 

1904 

8,060,689.05 

8,759,404.63 

698,715.58 

1905 

8,536,443.07 

10,045,413.03 

1,508,969.96 

1906 

8,484,419.78 

12,246,825.76 

3,762,405.98 

1907 

8,669,189.12 

11,389,642.40 

2,720,453.28 

1908 

10,676,338.92 

12,656,656.61 

1,980,317.69 

1909 

10,776,028.65 

11,856,002.21 

1,139,903.56 

1910 

10,620,865.57 

13,027,546.96 

2,406,681.39 

185,814,833.11 

1103,429,973.49 

$17,615,140.28 

56    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

It  will  be  observed  that,  while  the  general  revenue 
of  the  Republic  had  expanded  considerably  during  the 
past  decade,  having,  indeed,  increased  about  50  per 
cent.,  the  expenditure  had,  unfortunately,  expanded 
also,  and  to  a  greater  degree,  leaving  an  annually 
increasing  deficit  to  be  met.  The  reason  for  this 
during  the  latter  few  years  is  clear — the  unfortunate 
political  troubles  which  were  thrust  upon  the  Republic 
by  the  acts  of  certain  revolutionists  instigated  by  the 
evil  genius  of  Central  America,  ex-President  J.  Santos 
Zelaya,  and  which  turned  what  might  have  been  a 
fairly  profitable  period  into  a  disastrous  one,  from  a 
financial  aspect. 

Nevertheless,  there  is  no  reason  to  adopt  a  despair- 
ing view  of  the  Salvadorean  national  finances,  since 
the  resources  of  the  country  are  very  elastic,  and  their 
development  is  but  in  its  infancy. 

It  is  much  to  the  credit  of  the  Government,  both 
the  present  and  that  which  was  lately  in, office,  that 
the  situation  should  have  been  so  boldly  and  frankly 
met,  the  whole  position  being  explained  and  true 
reasons  given.  Everyone  must  think  the  better  of 
the  authorities  for  their  honesty  in  dealing  with  the 
nation,  an  honesty  which  is,  unfortunately,  rare,  not 
alone  among  Latin-American  States,  but  also  among 
European  Governments  of  much  older  growth  and 
wider  experience.  Don  Manuel  Lopez  Mencia,  the 
ex-Minister  of  Finance,  who  is  a  thoroughly  capable 
and  experienced  financier,  fully  grasped  the  neces- 
sities of  the  situation,  and  before  retiring  from  office 
freely  criticized  his  own  Department,  offering  many 
valuable  and  timely  suggestions  for  improving  it  and  for 
placing  the  finances  of  the  country  upon  a  more  satis- 
factory basis.  I  believe  that  the  present  year  (1911) 


PUBLIC  DEBT 


57 


is  destined  to  afford  a  much  more  encouraging  con- 
dition, and  a  continuation  of  the  present  economical 
and  severe  retrenchment  policy  in  force ;  the  deficit, 
which  has  made  an  unwelcome  appearance  in  each 
year's  accounts  over  a  period  of  a  whole  decade,  will 
gradually  give  place  to  a  surplus.  Naturally,  all 
depends  upon  internal  peace  being  preserved  and 
freedom  from  foreign  political  troubles ;  both  of  which, 
happily,  at  the  time  of  writing  seem  to  be  well 
assured. 

In  regard  to  the  general  financial  conditions  of 
Salvador,  which  are  at  the  present  time  in  a  much 
more  satisfactory  state,  the  following  particulars  will 
be  of  interest : 

PUBLIC  DEBT. 

The  composition  of  the  Public  Debt  on  December  31, 
1909,  stood  as  follows  : 


GOLD  LIABILITIES. 


Sundry  cash  creditors     ... 
Bills  payable    ... 
National  indemnity  bonds 
External  loan  principal  ... 
External  loan  interest  and  expenses 


$  Gold. 


4,744,000 
3,657,694 


9  Gold. 
906,585 
363,545 
73,656 


8,401,694 


$9,745,480  Gold. 
at  150  premium,  124,363,700  Silver. 


SILVER  LIABILITIES. 


Sundry  creditors 

Salvador  bonds  (principal  and 
interest) 

Administrative  salaries,  expenses, 
etc. 

Deposits 

Funds  to  be  applied  to  special  pur- 
poses 

Various  bonds  .. 


Total 


$  Silver. 
930,550 

3,564,207 

836,299 
2,629 

88,022 
113,140 


5,534,848 
$29,898,548  Silver. 


58    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

The  Public  Debt  of  the  Republic  of  Salvador  on 
December  31,  1901,  amounted  to  $10,666,584  (gold) 
=  £2,133,517,  and  $6,207,059  (silver)  =  £517,256. 
Reduced  to  the  silver  unit,  the  total  Debt  amounted 
to  $32,873,520. 

The  Customs  Revenues  for  1910  show  a  small 
decline  over  those  of  1909,  the  difference  being 
$3,784.00. 

IMPORT  DUTIES.  EXPORT  DUTIES. 

Sonsonate  $3,522,875.05  $430,359.84 

La  Union $1,086,766.03  $114,528.03 

La  Libertad        $554,400.57  $125,926.49 

Import  Duties  at  the  General  Imports  at  El 

Treasury  (parcels  post)    ...     $169,638.59        Triunfo    ...     $215,835.19 


Totals*     $5,333,680.24  $886,649.55 

The  Government's  whole  Revenue  during  the  first 
half  of  1910  amounted  to  $2,972,501  (gold),  and  its 
expenditure  to  $2,677,431  (gold). 

The  total  import  and  export  duties  for  the  two  years 
1909  and  1910  are  as  follows  : 

1909.  1910. 

Imports   ...      $4,176,931.56       1       Imports    ...      $3,745,249.19 
Exports    ...      $8,481,787.65       |       Exports    ...      $9,122,295.09 

(These  figures  are  in  U.S.  gold  currency.) 


BUDGET  FOR  1910-11. 

The  estimates  for  the  financial  year  1910-11, 
approved  by  the  National  Assembly,  and  published  in 
the  Diario  OJicial  of  June  6,  1910,|  were  practically 
identical  with  those  for  the  preceding  year. 

*  These  figures  are  in  Salvadorean  pesos =$0.403  U.S.  gold. 

t  This  volume  having  to  go  to  press  a  few  weeks  before  the  Return  of 
1910  will  have  been  issued,  the  figures  for  the  preceding  year  only  are 
available. 


ESTIMATES  OF  REVENUE,  1910-11 


59 


The  details  are  shown  below : 

ESTIMATES  OF  EEVENUE,  1910-11. 
CUSTOMS  KEVENUE. 

Imports :  $  Silver- 

Import  duties         ...             ...             ...  ...  3,100,000 

Fiscal  tax  of  30  per  cent.      ...             ...  ...  600,000 

Taxes  of  $3.60,  $2.40,  and  $0.50  gold  per  100 

kilos      ...             ...            ...            ...  ...  1,952,500 

Storage,  etc.            ...             ...             ...  ...  285,000 

Sundry  receipts      ...             ...            ...  ...  148,500 

Exports  : 

Coffee  export  duty  of  $0.40  gold  per  46  kilos    . . .  600,000 
Coffee  export  duty  of  $0.12£  for  internal  de- 
velopment in  the  Capital  ...             ...  ...  75,000 

Coffee  transit  permits            ...             ...  ...  80,175 

Tax  of  $1.50  per  100  kilos  in  favour  of  Central 

Eailway               ...            ...            ...  ...  4,000 

Sundry  receipts      ...            ...             ..,  ...  66,557 

INTERNAL  EEVENUE. 

Liquor  tax              ...            ...             ;..  ...  2,500,000 

Stamps  and  stamped  paper ...            ...  ...  264,500 

Internal  Excise     ...             ...             ...  ...  126,500 

Post-Offices,  Telegraphs,  and  Telephones  ...  270,250 

National  Printing- Office       ,..            ...  ...  25,000 

Penitentiaries         ...             ...             ...  ...  30,000 

Powder,  saltpetre,  and  cartridges       ...  ...  65,000 

Public  Eegistry      ...             ...             ...  ...  38,000 

Sundry  receipts      ...            ...            ...  ...  88,800 


Total 


...  $10,319,782 


ESTIMATES  OF  EXPENDITUEE, 

1910-11. 

$  Silver. 

National  Assembly 

40,980 

Presidency  of  the  Eepublic  ... 

41,340 

Department  of  Finance 

670,256 

„             Internal  Development 

636,800 

,,             Government 

...       1,250,463 

„             Foreign  Affairs 

116,080 

„             Justice 

507,192 

„             Public  Instruction 

714,652 

„             Beneficence  ... 

529,336 

„             War  and  Marine 

...      2,573,510 

„            Public  Credit 

...      3,291,260 

Total 


Ee venue  ... 
Expenditure 


SUMMAEY. 


Estimated  deficit 


...  $10,371,869 


$10,319,782 
10,371,869 

$52,087 


60    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

In  regard  to  this  Estimated  Deficit,  which  in  any 
case  is  very  small,  it  is  to  be  mentioned  that  in 
November  of  this  year  (1911)  an  additional  export  tax 
upon  coffee,  of  30  cents  (gold)  per  100  kilogrammes 
comes  into  effect,  although  only  for  two  years,  and  it  is 
expected  to  produce  $180,000  (gold).  This  additional 
revenue  will  wipe  out  the  small  anticipated  deficit,  and 
leave  a  considerable  surplus,  for  the  present  year. 


CHAPTER  V 

Salvador  versus  Honduras  and  Nicaragua — Attitude  of  the  President — 
Proclamation  to  the  people — Generals  Eivas  and  Alfaro — Invasion 
of  Salvador — Ignominious  retreat  of  enemy — Conciliatory  conduct  of 
General  Figueroa — Character  of  Salvadorean  people — Treachery  of 
Zelaya. 

THERE  is  no  question  that  but  for  the  prompt  and 
conciliatory  action  of  General  Figueroa  the  events 
which  took  place  in  the  last  months  of  1907  might  well 
have  involved  the  whole  of  the  States  of  Central 
America  in  a  long,  serious,  and  sanguinary  conflict. 
As  it  was,  sufficient  provocation  was  given  to  Salvador, 
whose  territory  was  invaded,  and  many  of  whose 
citizens  were  either  injured  or  robbed.  In  this  month, 
the  invaders  who  came  from  Honduras  were  largely 
composed  of  Honduraneans,  Nicaraguans,  Salvadorean 
revolutionists,  and  American  filibusters,  who  actually 
seized  the  port  of  Acajutla,  and  taking  forcible  posses- 
sion of  engines  and  cars  belonging  to  the  Salvador 
Railway  Company,  reached  as  far  as  the  city  of 
Sonsonate.  The  invading  forces  were  led  by  Generals 
Manuel  Rivas  and  Prudencio  Alfaro,  the  latter  being 
General  Santos  Zelaya's  candidate  for  the  Presidency 
of  Salvador. 

It  was  at  this  time  that  General  Figueroa  issued 
a  fervent  and  eloquent  appeal  to  the  loyalty  of  his 
troops  and  his  countrymen.  In  exhorting  them  to 
deeds  of  valour,  he  declared  that  he  himself  would 

61 


62    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

lead  his  army  in  defence  of  the  national  honour  even 
to  death,  and  his  previous  military  experience  would 
certainly  have  enabled  him  to  have  carried  them  to 
success.  General  Figueroa's  "  Proclamation  to  the 
Salvadorean  People"  is  worth  quotation  in  these  pages, 
and  I  therefore  give  it  in  full  as  follows  : 

"  Compatriots :  General  J.  Santos  Zelaya,  in  violation  of 
the  faith  imposed  in  international  agreements,  has  broken  his 
solemn  obligations  contracted  through  the  intervention  of 
the  Governments  of  the  United  States  and  Mexico.  At  day- 
break this  morning  he  surprised  the  small  military  force  at 
Acajutla,  and  has  landed  Nicaraguan  forces  with  the  object 
of  conquest.  Before  this  brutal  offence  which  the  Mcaraguan 
G-overnment  has  committed  against  us,  we  should  all,  as  one 
man,  gather  round  the  flag  of  our  country  and  defend  it, 
letting  our  blood  flow  rather  than  allow  it  to  be  stained  by 
the  adventurers  who,  in  an  evil  hour,  seek  to  defile  it.  The 
national  honour,  the  deeds  of  our  forefathers,  the  future  of 
our  children,  and  the  lofty  legends  of  our  people,  cry  to  us  to 
arise  and  punish  the  insolence  of  the  Nicaraguan  President, 
and  to  preserve,  not  only  our  military  glory  and  our  interests, 
which  recent  events  in  Honduras  have  shown  to  be  in  danger, 
but  the  respect  that  our  heroic  army  has  inspired  whenever  it 
has  been  called  upon  in  defence  of  our  country. 

"  Soldiers  :  Do  not  permit  the  consummation  of  this  insolent 
attempt  in  the  annals  of  an  enlightened  people  which  would 
fill  us  with  shame  and  opprobrium,  rendering  us  unworthy  to 
preserve  intact  the  sacred  treasure  of  our  autonomy,  the 
honour  of  our  victorious  banner  and  our  sovereignty.  Before 
permitting  the  arms  of  an  audacious  adventurer  to  violate  the 
soil  of  our  beloved  country,  whose  safeguard  is  entrusted  to 
the  national  army  and  to  your  undoubted  patriotism,  prefer 
yes,  a  thousand  times,  death  with  honour  on  the  battle-field, 
where  I  will  accompany  you  even  to  death. 

"  I  have  full  confidence  in  your  loyalty  and  in  your  military 
honour,  and  I  therefore  place  in  your  hands  the  sacred  trust 
of  the  national  defence. 


REVOLUTIONIST  LEADERS  63 

"  Free  and  heroic  peoples  never  retreat  before  the  enemy, 
for  they  carry  in  their  hearts  the  conscience  of  doing  their 
duties  and  confidence  in  the  right,  which  assist  all  worthy 
and  independent  peoples  to  repel  aggression  against  their 
autonomy. 

"  Salvadoreans :  In  this  movement  be  assured  that  I  shall 
save,  untarnished,  the  honour  of  the  country  and  the  security 
of  your  homes,  which  are  now  threatened  by  the  mercenary 
soldiery  of  the  Nicaragua!!  ruler. 

"  Your  chief  and  friend, 

"F.    FlGUEROA, 

"  SAN  SALVADOR, 

"June  11,  1907." 

It  is  satisfactory  to  know  that  the  Presidential  call 
to  arms,  in  addition  to  the  strong  personal  influence 
which  General  Figueroa  wielded,  shortly  afterwards 
put  an  end  to  the  trouble  that  had  threatened  at  one 
time  to  assume  the  most  serious  aspects,  and  to  have 
involved  the  whole  of  the  five  States  in  a  fierce 
struggle.  Now  that  the  threatening  cloud  has  been 
dispersed — it  may  be  hoped  for  all  time — it  is  possible 
to  smile  at  some  of  the  incidents  which  have  been 
related  in  connection  with  the  embroilment.  It  is, 
for  instance,  related  that  the  invasion  of  Salvadorean 
territory,  the  first  step  of  which  took  place  in  the 
month  of  June,  1907,  failed  of  achievement  princi- 
pally on  account  of  a  personal  dispute  which  broke 
out  between  the  two  Revolutionary  Generals,  Bivas 
and  Alfaro. 

It  is  alleged  that  the  former,  on  reaching  the  town 
of  Sonsonate,  after  landing  successfully  at  Acajutla, 
proceeded  to  the  National  Bank  in  that  town,  where 
he  overawed  the  cashier  (not  a  very  brilliant  achieve- 
ment, since  he  was  only  a  boy)  and  raised  what  is  known 
as  "  a  forced  loan/'  departing  heroically  with  the  sum 


64     SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

of  $20,000  in  silver,  and  nobly  handing  over  to  the 
bewildered  and  trembling  bank  official  a  receipt  for 
that  amount  signed  by  himself  as  the  "  General  of 
the  new  Salvadorean  Army."  On  learning  what  his 
brother  -  commander  had  done,  Alfaro,  it  is  said, 
strongly  objected  to  raising — "  stealing,"  he  described 
it — money  in  this  manner  ;  and  so  emphatic  was  his 
language,  and  so  indomitable  his  decision  to  have 
none  of  it,  that  General  Rivas  refused  on  his  part 
any  longer  to  act  with  him,  and  the  two  leaders 
parted  there  and  then,  Rivas  proceeding  on  his  way 
to  the  Capital  at  the  head  of  his  following,  and  Alfaro 
marching  with  his  to  Santa  Ana. 

Before  leaving  one  another,  it  was  arranged,  however, 
that  the  Republic  of  Salvador  should  be  divided  in 
half,  General  Rivas  to  rule  the  Eastern  zone,  with 
headquarters  at  San  Salvador,  and  General  Alfaro  to 
rule  the  Western  zone,  with  headquarters  at  Sonsonate. 
To  this  proposition  General  Alfaro  also-  strongly  ob- 
jected at  first,  but  consented  reluctantly  later ;  and 
while  the  two  future  victors  were  quarrelling  as  to 
what  they  would  do  with  the  territory  which  was  not 
yet  theirs,  a  messenger  arrived  hot-haste  from  the 
Capital  with  the  unpleasant  tidings  that  General 
Figueroa  was  coming  in  person  with  a  train-load  of 
troops  to  Sonsonate. 

Thereupon  followed  a  hasty  and  most  undignified 
retreat  to  Acajutla,  and  an  eyewitness  has  left  a 
humorous  description  of  how  the  brave  invaders,  in 
their  desire  to  get  out  as  soon  as  possible,  precipitated 
themselves  into  small  boats,  barges,  and  lighters,  or 
any  kind  of  thing  that  floated,  making  their  way  to 
the  gunboat  Momotombo,  up  the  sides  of  which  they 
scrambled  helter-skelter,  glad  enough  to  be  safely  off 


GOVERNMENT  PREPAREDNESS  65 

Salvadorean  territory  and  once  more  on  their  way  to 
the  refuge  of  the  Nicaraguan  port  of  Corinto. 

The  gunboat  was  obliged,  as  all  vessels  are,  to 
anchor  a  half-mile  from  the  Acajutla  pier,  men,  arms, 
and  ammunition  having  to  be  conveyed  over  that 
distance  in  any  kind  of  boat  of  which  they  could 
command  the  use. 

At  an  early  period  of  the  invasion  it  is  certain  that 
General  Figueroa  had  the  situation  well  in  hand.  He 
was  always  popular  with  the  army,  and  he  likewise 
possessed  the  complete  confidence  of  the  Salvadorean 
people,  who  felt  that  in  his  strong  hands  the  safety 
of  the  Republic  lay.  Moreover,  by  his  excellent 
system  of  organizing  the  Intelligence  Department  of 
his  army,  and  the  care  with  which  he  had  selected  his 
officers,  General  Figueroa  was  always  in  complete 
possession  of  the  plans  and  actions  of  the  opposing 
force ;  and  even  when  these  latter  fatuously  supposed 
that  he  knew  nothing,  and  was  doing  nothing,  to  check 
their  advance,  General  Figueroa  was  laying  his  plans 
with  consummate  ability,  and,  as  we  now  know,  he 
ultimately  executed  them  with  complete  success. 

Dr.  Alfaro,  who  for  the  nonce  had  become  a 
"General,"  was  never  an  opponent  worth  much  con- 
sideration; while  General  Eivas  only  displayed  any 
marked  ability  when  conspiring  and  organizing  foreign 
troops,  destined  to  be  led  to  battle,  when  led  at  all, 
by  others  than  himself.  The  only  man  who  had  any 
chance  of  making  serious  difficulty,  and  who  might  have 
fostered  formidable  trouble,  was  Barahona,  of  whose 
actions  and  intentions  the  President  was  always  fully 
aware,  and  who  at  the  psychological  moment  con- 
signed him  to  the  security  of  a  prison.  And  there  he 
kept  him  until  the  worst  trouble  was  over. 

5 


66    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

The  conciliatory  measures  which  were  adopted  at 
the  beginning  by  General  Figueroa  and  his  Govern- 
ment were  adhered  to  throughout  the  upheaval,  and 
it  is  only  right  that  impartial  history  should  record 
the  dignified  and  sane  proceedings  which  characterized 
the  attitude  of  the  Eepublic  of  Salvador  at  this  period. 
The  views  which  General  Figueroa  entertained  and 
acted  upon  throughout  are  clearly  reflected  in  an 
official  communication  addressed  to  a  well-known 
American,  the  then  Consul- General  for  Salvador  in  the 
United  States.  General  Figueroa  said  : 

"  Untiring  enemies  of  the  peace  and  repose  of  our  people 
have  once  more  endeavoured  to  create  disturbances ;  for  some 
time  past  my  Government  has  received  notices  of  what  was 
transpiring,  and  of  the  progress  of  the  conspiracy,  together 
with  considerable  data.  This  Government  did  not,  however, 
act  hastily,  assuming,  rather,  an  expectative  attitude,  but 
nevertheless  following  closely  the  trend  of  affairs,  until  the 
moment  had  arrived  when  active  work  was  to  be  begun. 

"  This  Government  early  received  advices  from  various 
parts  of  the  country,  notifying  it  of  suspicious  movements  011 
the  part  of  the  enemies  of  the  Republic.  It  was  also  noted 
that  many  of  these  left  the  Capital  two  or  three  days  before 
for  other  towns,  and  all  of  them  were  closely  followed.  The 
Government  was  prepared  for  all  emergencies ;  barracks  were 
ready,  and  the  proper  orders  given  to  crush  any  movements 
on  their  part.  Consequently,  when  numbers  of  these  con- 
spirators formed  in  groups  around  such  towns  as  Sonsonate 
and  Ahuachapan,  many  were  captured.  The  Government  is 
now  in  possession  of  the  persons  of  most  of  the  authors  of  the 
conspiracy,  and  the  guilty  ones  are  being  proceeded  against 
legally.  Fortunately,  the  trouble  has  not  interfered  with  the 
progress  of  the  country,  nor  with  the  gathering  of  the  coffee 
crop  which  is  now  in  progress;  while  the  Government  has 
received  assurances  of  sympathy  and  support  from  the  great 
majority  of  law-abiding  citizens  throughout  the  country." 


ZELAYA  THE  DISTURBER  67 

In  this  reference  to  the  trifling  effect  occasioned  to 
the  coffee  crop  by  the  political  disturbances,  the 
President  was  a  little  premature.  The  subsequent 
depression  which  was  experienced  in  commercial  circles 
generally  was  undoubtedly  occasioned  by  these  dis- 
turbances, although  the  consequence  only  proved 
transient. 

All  travellers,  foreigners  and  natives  alike,  who 
happened  to  be  in  Central  America  at  this  time,  were 
well  aware  of  the  provocative  part  which  President 
Santos  Zelaya  of  Nicaragua  was  playing ;  for  many 
years  he  had  been  acting  as  the  evil  genius  of  this 
Republic,  and  his  misgovernrnent  and  brutalities  to 
his  own  people  met  with  general  condemnation. 

There  can  be  no  question  that  the  revolution  which 
was  started  in  Salvador,  but  which  was  so  promptly 
and  effectually  suppressed,  was  promoted  by  Zelaya, 
who,  rightly  or  wrongly, imagined  that  at  the  psycho- 
logical moment  he  would  meet  with  support,  not  alone 
from  Honduras,  but  from  the  United  States,  either 
directly  or  indirectly. 

There  is  sufficient  evidence  on  record  to  prove  that 
Dr.  Prudencio  Alfaro,  who,  since  the  death  of  General 
Regalado  during  the  war  with  Guatemala  in  1906, 
had  attained  some  slight  popularity  in  Salvador,  was 
the  instrument  through  whom  General  Zelaya  hoped, 
and  indeed  endeavoured,  to  carry  out  his  plans.  The 
conquest  of  Salvador  was  only  one  of  them,  since,  as 
I  have  mentioned  in  another  part  of  this  volume,  it 
was  the  ambition  of  Santos  Zelaya  to  reconstitute 
a  Federation  of  the  five  Central  American  States,  and 
then  to  elect  himself  first  President. 

It  was  with  the  financial  and  physical  assistance 
of  Zelaya  that  Dr.  Alfaro  engaged  the  Nicaraguan 


68    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

gunboat  to  convey  him  and  other  conspirators  from 
Corinto  to  Acajutla  in  order  to  spy  out  the  land,  and 
to  industriously  lay  the  seeds  of  revolution.  It  was 
nothing  to  Zelaya  that  he  should  allow  one  of  the 
Government  gunboats  to  be  employed  in  making 
warfare  against  a  friendly  power,  with  which  he  had 
signed  a  treaty  of  peace  only  a  very  few  weeks  before, 
or  to  supply  from  the  national  treasury  the  funds  for 
letting  loose  a  horde  of  armed  ruffians  upon  a  neigh- 
bour's territory. 

I  have  been  shown  documentary  proofs  of  the 
arrangements  upon  which  Zelaya  had  been  employed 
for  many  months  previous,  and  which  provided  for  the 
invasion  of  Salvador  at  four  different  points.  From 
time  to  time  changes  were  made  in  the  personnel  of 
the  Nicaraguan  commanders,  but  the  names  upon  the 
lists  which  were  shown  to  me  were  not  in  all  cases  the 
same  as  those  of  the  men  who  actually  took  part  in 
the  abortive  invasion. 

I  remember,  for  instance,  observing  the  name  of 
General  Salvador  Toledo,  who  had  previously  been 
deputed  to  command  the  invading  army  which  was 
to  enter  Salvador  from  Honduras,  near  the  Guatemalan 
frontier ;  and  also  that  of  General  Estrada,  who  had 
been  nominated  to  strike  at  the  enemy  with  the 
Northern  forces  at  the  proper  time.  This  General 
Estrada  had  been  in  command  of  the  Honduranean 
forces  between  Puerto  Cortes  and  the  Salvadorean  line, 
and  he  it  was  who  numbered  among  his  followers  all 
the  scum  of  the  population,  mostly  consisting  of 
ex-prisoners  and  exiles,  who  were  willing  enough 
to  fight  against  their  own  country's  soldiers,  side  by 
side  with  Honduraneans. 

Another  name  which  was  on  the  officers'  list  was 


STATE  OF  SIEGE  DECLARED  69 

that  of  General  Cierra,  who  was  to  have  entered  the 
Eepublic  of  Salvador  from  the  south,  with  the  inten- 
tion of  capturing  the  port  of  La  Union,  and  of  meeting 
the  forces  of  Generals  Cristales  and  Presa.  According 
to  the  calculations  which  were  then  made,  it  was 
believed  that  General  Cierra  had  only  3,000  men  with 
him. 

General  Figueroa  at  this  time  wisely  declared  the 
City  of  Salvador  "  in  a  state  of  siege,"  which  is  the 
equivalent  of  suspension  of  political  guarantees,  to 
enable  summary  action  to  be  taken  against  political 
offenders  or  even  suspects ;  a  condition  afterwards 
extended  to  the  whole  country  ;  and  his  instruc- 
tions to  the  Governors  of  the  several  Departments  no 
doubt  saved  the  Central  Government  from  consider- 
able embarrassment  as  the  result  of  the  rising.  Those 
who  led  the  insurrection  had  counted  upon  receiving 
support  from  the  public,  which,  however,  they  did 
not  realize,  and  the  lack  of  this  made  the  capture 
of  the  leaders  by  the  Government  troops  a  matter  of 
comparative  facility.  Secondly,  much  of  the  incon- 
venience which  would  have  followed  a  general  dis- 
turbance of  the  affairs  of  the  country  at  that  time, 
and  which  would  have  caused  both  the  Government 
and  the  people  losses  upon  coffee  shipments,  was 
spared  them,  but  not  altogether  obviated. 

As  we  have  seen,  it  was  altogether  a  clumsy  attack 
which  had  been  planned,  and  had  better  local  know- 
ledge prevailed  it  would  have  been  ascertained  that 
the  prestige  of  the  existing  Government  stood  too 
high,  and  the  personal  popularity  of  General  Figueroa 
was  too  great,  to  have  ever  endowed  this  rising  with 
any  great  chances  of  success. 

In  this  connection  I  think  I  may  well  quote   an 


70    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

extract  from  an  official  statement  which  was  made 
in  El  Diario  de  Salvador,  one  of  the  most  powerful 
papers  in  the  Republic,  of  which  I  attach  the  following 
translation  : 

"  In  our  edition  of  yesterday  we  published  the  decree  of 
the  Supreme  Executive  power  declaring  the  Republic  to  be  in 
a  state  of  siege.  According  to  the  terms  of  this  decree,  the 
Grovernment  has  been  obliged  to  take  extreme  measures, 
owing  to  the  attempt  of  its  enemies  to  create  a  revolutionary 
movement  calculated  to  cause  a  radical  change  in  this  Grovern- 
ment. 

"Fortunately  for  the  Administration,  the  plot  was  dis- 
covered in  time,  and  repressive  measures  were  at  once  adopted 
which  rendered  the  movement  impossible  of  consummation. 
But,  if  it  is  certain  that  the  internal  peace  has  not  been  dis- 
turbed, such  is  not  the  case  with  the  credit  of  the  country. 
Furthermore,  the  fact  that  the  attempt  was  made  at  the  time 
for  harvesting  coffee  aggravated  the  situation  somewhat  for 
the  moment,  and  threatened  to  interfere  with  the  gathering 
of  this  important  crop  on  which  much  of  the  prosperity  of  the 
country  depends ;  but  the  action  of  the  Chief  Executive  in 
issuing  orders  to  the  Governors  of  the  several  Departments 
has  reduced  this  evil  to  a  minimum. 

"  In  his  instructions  to  the  Governors,  the  Minister  of  the 
Interior  provided  in  part  that,  notwithstanding  the  state  of 
siege,  the  greatest  latitude  must  be  given  persons  and  work- 
men who  were  not  actually  under  suspicion,  but  insisted  on 
the  strict  guarding  of  public  order.  Men  in  the  discharge  of 
their  duties,  however,  were  allowed  to  pass  toward  the  Capital 
of  the  country  without  the  necessity  of  presenting  passports. 
This  referred  particularly  to  merchants,  managers  of  planta- 
tions, and  day  labourers. 

"  As  will  be  seen,"  continued  the  journal  referred  to,  "  the 
circular  does  not  mention  the  municipal  elections  which  are 
soon  to  take  place  throughout  the  interior,  but  the  President 
of  the  Republic  has  authorized  us  to  make  known  his  desires 
that  these  elections  be  held  with  perfect  freedom,  and  be 
unhampered  by  the  decree  of  the  Executive." 


COLONEL'S  QUARTERS,  SCHOOL  OF  SERGEANTS. 


OFFICERS'  CLUB  ROOM,  SCHOOL  OF  SERGEANTS. 


CHARACTER  OF  SALVADOREAN  PEOPLE       71 

The  extract  which  I  am  quoting  continues  as  follows  : 

"  Whatever  reasons  the  enemies  of  the  Government  may 
set  forth  in  justification  of  their  conduct,  it  cannot  be  doubted 
that  the  country  has  resisted  the  movement  grandly,  and  has 
caused  the  failure  of  another  attempt,  which  adds  one  more 
to  the  number  which  have  aided  to  discredit  the  country 
abroad,  and  characterized  our  land  as  one  of  convulsive 
nations,  incapable  of  making  reasonable  use  of  their  Govern- 
ments, such  as  we  now  enjoy.  We  must  not  lose  sight  of  the 
fact  that  the  eyes  of  Europe  are  upon  us,  thanks  to  the  impor- 
tant role  which  Salvador  is  destined  to  play  in  uniting  the 
civilizations  of  the  East  with  the  West." 

It  cannot  be  too  emphatically  pointed  out  that  the 
Salvadoreans  are  not  naturally  a  rebellious  or  warlike 
people,  and,  except  when  compelled  to  take  up  arms  in 
their  own  defence  or  in  favour  of  a  righteous  cause, 
they  ask  nothing  better  than  to  be  permitted  to  devote 
themselves  to  the  congenial  and  profitable  occupation 
of  cultivating  the  bounteous  land  which  is  theirs  by 
inheritance.  In  the  troubles  which  afflicted  the 
country  in  the  years  1907-08,  the  whole  cause  was  the 
incitement  which  was  offered  to  them  by  their 
turbulent  and  troublesome  neighbours  the  Nicaraguans 
and  the  Honduraneans.  As  I  have  shown  very 
conclusively,  it  was  the  long-established  policy  of 
Santos  Zelaya  to  foster  an  outbreak  in  Salvador  which 
should  broaden  into  a  revolution,  in  the  course  of 
which  Salvadorean  troops  would  be  compelled  inno- 
cently to  commit  some  overt  act  which  would  give 
Honduras  or  Nicaragua  a  cause  for  the  initiation  of 
a  movement  against  the  Kepublic.  This,  it  was  hoped, 
would  ultimately  result  in  the  election  to  the 
Presidency  of  Salvador  of  Dr.  Prudencio  Alfaro,  who 
was  always  a  creature  of  Santos  Zelaya,  and  who  for 


72    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

many  months  was  his  guest  at  Managua,  where  he 
formed  all  his  plans,  for  the  execution  of  which  Presi- 
dent Zelaya  was  ready  to  pay.  As  we  have  seen,  the 
agitators  did  not  wait  for  the  casus  belli  on  the  part 
of  Salvador,  but  most  unwarrantably  invaded  that 
country  and  committed  certain  outrages,  only,  how- 
ever, to  have  to  execute  a  most  humiliating  retreat 
before  any  beneficial  results  could  possibly  have  accrued 
to  them.  Had  it  come  to  an  actual  encounter  or 
series  of  encounters  between  the  allied  forces  of 
Honduras  and  Nicaragua  on  the  one  hand  and  the 
Salvadoreans  on  the  other,  there  can  be  no  question 
that  the  latter  would  in  the  long-run  have  emerged 
victorious;  out  of  a  population  of  1,100,000,  the 
Salvadoreans  can  claim  a  fighting  force  of  at  least 
100,000.  The  Salvadoreans  are  the  best  and  most 
plucky  fighters  in  South  or  Central  America,  as  has 
been  proved  upon  several  occasions,  displaying  great 
intelligence  on  the  battle-field  and  in  the  conduct  of 
their  campaigns.  At  the  memorable  battle  of  Jutiapa, 
fought  between  the  Salvadorean  troops  and  the  Guate- 
malans in  the  previous  year  (1906),  and  in  spite  of 
the  fact  that  the  latter  numbered  over  40,000  as 
against  little  more  than  half  that  force  arrayed  on 
the  side  of  Salvador,  the  former  gave  an  extremely 
good  account  of  themselves,  and  showed  that  the 
excellent  military  training  which  they  had  received 
had  not  been  thrown  away. 

The  invasion  of  Salvadorean  territory  in  the  month 
of  June,  1907,  by  the  Nicaraguans  was  a  direct  and 
unprovoked  violation  of  the  Treaty  of  Peace  and 
Amity  of  Amapala,  only  signed  on  the  previous 
April  23,  and  ratified  on  May  8,  by  which  the  Govern- 
ments of  the  two  countries  agreed  to  submit  their 


TREACHERY  OF  ZELAYA  73 

grievances  to  the  Presidents  of  the  United  States  and 
Mexico  for  arbitration.  The  news  was  first  received 
through  the  telegram  sent  by  President  Figueroa, 
dated  June  11,  1907,  and  addressed  to  Dr.  Manuel 
Delgado,  the  Salvadorean  Minister  at  Washington. 
In  this  despatch,  General  Figueroa  says  : 

"  This  morning  the  revolutionists  bombarded  and  captured 
the  port  of  Acajutla.  The  forces  were  commanded  by  G-eneral 
Manuel  Rivas,  and  came  from  Corinto  in  the  warship  Momo- 
tombo,  armed  by  the  President  of  Nicaragua.  It  is  in  this 
manner  that  President  Zelaya  complies  with  the  terms  of 
the  Treaty  of  Amapala,  which  was  the  result  of  the  interven- 
tion of  the  American  Government." 

The  gunboat  mentioned  was  one  of  six  warships 
which  Nicaragua  at  that  date  possessed,  and  which 
composed  the  whole  of  the  Nicaraguan  "  Navy."  The 
vessel  was  capable  of  transporting  1,000  troops,  and 
the  facility  with  which  these  landed  and  seized  the 
port  of  Acajutla  is  explained  by  the  fact  that  the 
Salvadoreans  were  entirely  unsuspicious  and  unpre- 
pared for  such  an  outrageous  act  upon  the  part  of 
the  treacherous  Zelaya,  with  whom  they  had  every 
reason  to  consider  themselves  at  peace.  The  civilized 
world  has  denounced  the  Nicaraguans'  act  of  aggres- 
sion, and  unhesitatingly  expressed  the  opinion  that 
President  Zelaya  had  committed  a  grave  violation 
of  international  ethics  in  opening  hostilities  against 
Salvador  without  having  made  a  preliminary  declara- 
tion of  war  or  giving  any  reasons  for  such  an  action. 


CHAPTER  VI 

Outbreak  of  hostilities  between  Salvador,  Honduras,  Nicaragua,  and 
Guatemala — Discreditable  conduct  of  Nicaragua  proved — Failure  of 
United  States  and  Mexican  intervention — Dignified  and  loyal 
attitude  of  General  Figueroa — Warning  to  Honduras  —  President 
Davila  used  as  Zelaya's  cat's-paw — The  latter's  subsequent  regret — 
Central  American  Court  of  Justice  trial  of  claim  for  damages,  and 
result  of  judgment. 

THE  true  friends  of  interstate  peace,  of  whom  there 
are  as  many  in  Latin  America  as  other  parts  of  the 
world — although,  from  the  frequent  turmoils  which 
occur  in  that  part  of  the  globe,  one  might  be  excused 
for  doubting  it — were  much  distressed  by  the  serious 
quarrel  which  broke  out  between  the  neighbouring 
Republics  of  Salvador,  Guatemala,  Honduras,  and 
Nicaragua,  in  the  years  1907-08.  This  was  not  by  any 
means  the  first  conflict  which  arose  between  Salvador 
and  Honduras,  for  the  two  States  were  at  war  in 
1871,  when  General  Miranda  invaded  Honduras  with 
the  object  of  proclaiming  General  Xatruch  as  President 
in  place  of  General  Medina;  again  in  1872,  when 
were  fought  the  famous  battles  of  Sabana  Grande  and 
Santa  Barbara;  and  in  1873,  when  Salvador  sent 
an  armed  expedition  against  President  Celio  Arias, 
and  in  order  to  restore  General  Ponciano  Leiva  to  the 
Presidency  of  the  neighbouring  Republic.  Although 
the  relations  between  Nicaragua  and  its  adjoining 
States  had  long  been  on  a  questionable  basis  owing 
to  the  ambitious  projects  of  General  J.  Santos  Zelaya, 

74 


INTERSTATE  TROUBLES  75 

its  President,  there  was  no  reason  to  anticipate  any 
disturbance,  more  especially  as  at  the  most  critical 
time,  owing  to  the  intervention  of  the  United  States 
and  Mexico,  the  cloud  had  blown  over,  and  to  all 
appearances  peace  reigned. 

The  worthlessness  of  the  intervention,  and  the 
absolute  ineptitude  of  the  United  States  to  effect 
any  permanent  improvement  in  the  prevailing  con- 
ditions, was,  however,  proved  conclusively  a  few 
months  after  the  Treaty  of  Peace  and  Amity  had 
been  signed,  amid  somewhat  premature  rejoicings  at 
Washington,  on  December  20,  1907.  Almost  before 
the  ink  was  dry  upon  the  document,  Honduranean 
and  Nicaraguan  troops  had  violated  the  terms  and 
conditions,  and  continued,  moreover,  to  do  so  in  spite 
of  all  diplomatic  reminders  and  serious  warnings  from 
the  United  States.  In  these  "warnings,"  however, 
Mexico  took  no  part,  merely  using  the  good  offices  of 
President  Diaz  to  effect  what  the  threat  of  the  Big 
Stick  had  failed  to  accomplish.  Eventually  peace 
was  proclaimed,  and  since  then  it  has  been  strictly 
maintained  as  between  the  different  Republics, 
although  not  by  any  means  so  within  their  own 
borders,  as  witness  what  has  recently  occurred,  and 
is  still  occurring,  in  Honduras,  and,  alas !  within 
Mexican  territory,  also.  It  seems  a  cruel  irony  that 
Diaz  the  Dictator  should  so  soon  have  become  the 
Deposed.  The  fact  recalls  forcibly  the  poet  Burns's 
well-known  words  : 


"  And  may  you  better  reck  the  rede, 
Than  ever  did  th'  adviser  1" 


The  true  history  of  these  Republics'  quarrels  of 
recent  times  would  at  this  stage  be  somewhat  difficult 
to  record,  since  an  immense  quantity  of  official  docu- 


76     SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

ments  would  have  to  be  translated  and  given  in  full. 
To  do  this,  however  interesting,  would  prove  impractic- 
able within  the  limits  of  a  single  volume.  The  matter 
has  been  sketched  by  me  from  personal  knowledge, 
and  I  trust  that  I  shall  escape  the  charge  of  prejudice 
or  unfairness  to  any  of  the  parties  involved. 

For  the  facts  set  forth  abundant  evidence  can  be 
procured,  and  possibly,  if  my  account  be  compared  with 
the  many  versions  which  have  been  from  time  to  time 
adduced  by  others,  who  have  spoken  and  written  from 
authoritative  or  personal  information,  it  will  not  be 
found  to  vary  very  much  in  the  main  particulars.  I 
have  patiently  listened  to  the  accounts  of  all  that  took 
place  both  on  Salvadorean  and  on  Nicaraguan  territory, 
and,  furthermore,  the  incidents  which  both  led  up  to 
and  followed  the  clash  of  arms  were  related  to  me  by 
the  participants  when  all  feeling  of  animosity  and 
bitterness  had  disappeared,  and  the  usual  friendliness 
between  the  members  of  this  strangely  mercurial 
people  had  been  restored.  Thus  very  little  for  spirit 
of  resentment — although  perhaps  something  for  the 
vainglorious  spirit  of  the  individuals  concerned — need 
be  allowed.  11  est  difficile  toujours  destimer  quelqu'un 
comme  il  veut  I'dtre. 

Considerable  as  is  the  space  which  I  have  given  up 
in  this  volume  to  the  relations  of  the  Salvadorean, 
Honduranean,  and  Nicaraguan  troubles,  I  find  it  impos- 
sible to  publish  in  its  entirety,  as  I  should  have  liked 
to  have  done,  the  text  of  the  complaints  presented  by 
the  Governments  of  Honduras  and  Nicaragua  against 
that  of  Salvador,  and  which  were  heard  before  and 
decided  by  the  Central  American  Court  of  Justice, 
as  well  as  the  final  answer  and  arguments  which  were 
later  on  issued  by  the  Ministry  of  Foreign  Affairs  of 


SALVADOR  AND  HONDURAS  77 

Salvador.  All  these  documents,  which  fill  two 
substantial  and  closely  -  printed  pamphlets,  the  one 
consisting  of  84  pages  and  the  other  of  108  pages,  are 
extremely  interesting  and  instructive,  serving  as  they 
do  to  throw  a  particularly  clear  light  upon  the  methods 
of  some  of  the  Central  American  States,  which  imagine 
that  they  are  acting  in  an  "  honourable  "  manner  and 
fulfilling  a  respectable  destiny. 

It  is  significant  that  these  publications,  which  are 
complete  and  official,  were  issued  by  the  Government 
of  Salvador,  from  which  it  is  clear  at  least  that  this 
country  had  nothing  to  fear  from  the  world  at  large 
being  made  acquainted  with  the  history  of  the  troubles. 
No  less  worthy  of  comment  is  it  that  neither  Honduras 
nor  Nicaragua  has  ever  made  any  rejoinder  to  the 
arguments  and  conclusions  of  the  Court  of  Justice 
or  of  the  Salvadorean  Government,  and  in  this  action, 
perhaps,  they  have  for  the  first  time  shown  some 
intelligent  discretion. 

The  impartial  reader  of  these  publications  can  only 
arrive  at  one  conclusion,  nor,  indeed,  is  it  even  neces- 
sary that  he  should  know  anything  of  either  the 
countries  or  their  inhabitants  to  be  able  to  form  some 
sensible  deduction  from  the  actual  position.  The 
correspondence,  the  genuineness  of  which  is  un- 
challenged, speaks  for  itself.  It  seems  clear  that 
the  Government  of  Salvador,  while  subscribing  in 
Washington  the  Central  American  Treaty  of  Peace, 
swore  faithfully  to  fulfil  the  International  Agreement 
which  bound  it  to  its  sister  Republics,  and  at  the 
same  time  opened  for  itself  and  for  them,  as  it  had 
every  reason  to  hope  and  believe,  a  new  era  of 
confraternity  to  be  maintained  in  dignity  and  mutual 
advantage.  To  the  principles  of  that  Treaty,  Salvador 


78    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

adhered  with  the  utmost  rigour ;  and,  in  the  face  of  the 
most  intense  provocation,  refused  to  depart  one  inch 
from  its  solemn  obligations.  The  attitude  which  this 
small  but  high -principled  State  showed  at  this  time 
of  trouble  and  trial  has  evoked  the  admiration  and 
commendation  of  all  statesmen,  independently  of 
country,  or  creed,  or  political  belief. 

To  particularize  more  minutely  from  the  abundant 
evidence  which  exists  to  this  effect,  and  which  may 
be  gathered  from  every  page  of  these  two  pamphlets, 
is  unnecessary  in  this  volume ;  but  one  fact  at  least 
I  may  call  attention  to,  as  exemplifying  the  honesty 
of  purpose  and  the  good  faith  of  the  Salvadorean 
Government  towards  the  Republic  of  Honduras,  at  a 
time,  moreover,  when  only  armed  retaliation  could 
reasonably  have  been  looked  for. 

In  all  probability  the  friendliness  of  President 
Figueroa  for  his  neighbours  would  never  have  been 
questioned,  nor  their  relations  have  been  in  any  way 
embittered,  but  for  the  Machiavellian  interference  of 
Santos  Zelaya.  It  is  an  eloquent  fact  of  the  sympathy 
felt  for  Honduras,  that  President  Figueroa  of  Salvador 
wrote  personally,  and  almost  affectionately,  to  President 
Davila,  on  June  10,  1907,  drawing  his  attention  to  the 
revolutionary  plans  of  certain  Honduranean  exiles  who 
were  making  Salvadorean  territory  their  temporary 
headquarters.  Only  feelings  of  friendship  and  good- 
nature could  have  prompted  a  neighbourly  action 
of  this  kind,  which,  however,  some  few  months  after- 
wards was  rewarded  by  President  Davila  allowing 
his  troops  to  join  forces  with  the  Nicaraguans  in  their 
invasion  of  Salvadorean  territory. 

This  I  may  say  in  defence  of  ex-President  Miguel  E/. 
Davila,  whom  I  know  quite  well,  and  with  whom  I 


PRESIDENT  DA  VILA  USED  AS  CATS-PAW      79 

have  had  many  long  and  interesting  conversations  : 
he  is  a  man  of  great  honesty  of  purpose,  but  of 
singularly  weak  will ;  in  fact,  he  has  neither  initiative 
nor  power  of  moral  resistance.  Quiet  and  modest  to 
an  extraordinary  degree,  speaking  very  little  above 
a  whisper,  and  with  the  manners  of  a  curate  rather 
than  those  of  a  soldier,  one  is  inclined  to  rather 
wonder  que  diable  fait-il  dans  cette  galere  of  President 
of  an  unruly  and  half-savage  Republic. 

In  agreeing  to  join  Zelaya  upon  his  mad  and 
mendacious  enterprise,  President  Miguel  Davila,  who 
had  only  assumed  the  Presidency  in  the  month  of 
April  of  that  year  (1907),  undoubtedly  allowed  his 
better  judgment  and  sense  of  decency  to  be  overruled. 
This  do  I  know,  also  :  he  has  deeply  and  sincerely 
repented  of  his  action,  not  because  it  failed  and  he 
lost  the  game  at  which  he  had  consented  to  try  his 
hand,  but  because,  being  a  man,  as  I  have  said,  of 
innate  honesty  of  purpose,  he  perceived  when  too  late 
that  he  had  committed  what  is  a  worse  offence  than  a 
mistake — a  crime  against  personal  honour. 

General  Fernando  Figueroa,  however,  did  something 
more  than  merely  warn  President  Davila  of  the  plot- 
ting going  on  against  his  government  and  his  life,  and 
which  was  proceeding  beyond  his  own  jurisdiction. 
He  actually  prevented  the  leader  of  the  Honduranean 
revolutionists,  General  Teofilo  Carcamo,  from  leaving 
Salvadorean  territory,  keeping  him,  with  many  other 
conspirators,  in  prison,  and  thus  helping  to  quell  an 
uprising  against  President  Davila's  government. 

The  magnanimity  of  the  Salvadorean  Government 
continued  to  the  end.  Notwithstanding  the  finding 
of  the  Central  American  Court  of  Justice,  (delivered 
on  December  19,  1908),  and  which,  being  in  favour  of 


80    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

Salvador  upon  all  points  raised,  should  sequentia  have 
carried  costs,  the  Government  forewent  any  such 
claims,  which  by  the  terms  usually  prevailing  under 
International  Law  could  have  been  insisted  upon,  and 
found  its  share  of  the  expenses  incurred  by  the  inquiry. 
Subsequent  to  the  troubles  related  in  the  fore- 
going pages,  the  Honduranean  Government  stupidly 
courted  fresh  disasters  by  prosecuting  a  claim  for 
damages  against  the  two  Republics  of  Salvador  and 
Guatemala  for  injuries  which  it  declared  it  had 
sustained  as  a  result  of  those  two  sister-States  having 
harboured  Honduranean  agitators  and  conspirators 
within  their  borders.  The  exact  value  of  this  claim 
can  best  be  judged  by  perusing  the  following  questions 
that  were  considered  and  determined  by  the  Special 
Court  of  Justice  which  was  formed  in  Costa  Rica  (the 
only  State  which  stood  aside  and  refused  to  be 
concerned  in  this  Central  American  squabble),  and 
the  members  of  which  were  made  up  of  five  different 
nationalities.  Attached  is  a  faithful  translation  of 
what  transpired  on  this  occasion : 

IN  THB  CENTRAL  AMERICAN  COURT  OF  JUSTICE  AT  CARTAGO,  COSTA  EICA. 

THE  GOVEENMENT  OF  THE  KEPUBLIC  OF  HONDUEAS 
VERSUS  THE  GOVEENMENTS  OF  THE  EEPUBLICS  OF  EL 
SALVADOE  AND  GUATEMALA. 

DECISION  :   IN  THE  CITY  OF  CARTAGO,   COSTA  EICA,  AT  MIDNIGHT   OF 
THE  19TH  OF  DECEMBER,  1908. 

Upon  the  closing  of  the  deliberations  of  the  Court  for  pronouncing 
judgment  in  the  complaint  filed  by  the  Government  of  the  Eepublic  of 
Honduras  against  the  Governments  of  the  Republics  of  El  Salvador  and 
Guatemala,  charging  responsibility  that  took  place  in  the  first-mentioned 
Eepublic  in  the  month  of  June  last,  the  Chief  Justice  submitted  the 
following  queries  to  be  voted  upon  in  rendering  the  decision  that  is  to 
settle  the  controversy  : 


CENTRAL  AMERICAN  COURT  OF  JUSTICE       81 


First  Question. — Should  the  Court  sus- 
tain the  exception  taken  by  the  repre- 
sentative of  the  Government  of  Guatemala 
as  to  the  inadmissibility  of  the  complaint, 
on  grounds  that  it  was  filed  before  all 
negotiations  for  settlement,  between  the 
two  respective  Departments  of  Foreign 
Affairs,  had  been  resorted  to  without 
success  ? 

Second  Question. — Should  the  Court 
sustain  the  exception  taken  by  the  same 
party,  as  to  the  insufficiency  of  basis  of 
action,  considering  that  no  evidence  was 
filed  together  with  the  complaint  ? 

Third  Question. — Is  it  proven,  and 
should  it  thus  be  held,  that  the  Govern- 
ment of  the  Kepublic  of  El  Salvador  has 
violated  Article  17  of  the  Treaty  of  Peace 
and  Amity,  signed  at  Washington  on 
December  20,  1907,  by  failing  to  bring 
to  the  Capital  and  to  submit  to  trial  Hon- 
duranean  exiles  who  endangered  the  peace 
of  their  country  ? 

Fourth  Question. — Is  it  proven,  and 
should  it  thus  be  held,  that  the  Govern- 
ment of  the  Eepublic  of  El  Salvador  has 
violated  Article  2  of  the  additional  con- 
vention to  said  treaty  by  fostering  and 
promoting  the  revolutionary  movement 
referred  to  ? 


The  result  of  the  vote  cast 
was  as  follows : 

First  Question. — The  five 
justices  answered  in  the  nega- 
tive. 


Second  I  Question.  —  The 
five  justices  answered  in  the 
negative. 


Third  Question. — Justices 
Gallegos,  Bocanegra,  and 
Astua  answered  in  the  nega- 
tive, and  Justices  Tide's  and 
Madriz  in  the  affirmative. 


Fourth  Question.  —  Jus- 
tices Gallegos,  Bocanegra, 
Astua,  and  Madriz  answered 
in  the  negative,  and  Justice 
Ucles  in  the  affirmative. 


Fifth  Question. — Is  it  proven,  and 
should  it  be  held,  that  the  Government 
of  the  Eepublic  of  El  Salvador  has  con- 
tributed to  the  realization  of  the  said 
political  disturbance,  through  culpable 
negligence  ? 

Sixth  Question.  —  In  consequence, 
should  the  Court  hold  that  the  action 
instituted  against  the  Government  of  the 
Republic  of  El  Salvador  is  according  to 
law,  and,  if  so,  should  that  Government 
be  sentenced  to  pay  the  indemnity  for 
damages  that  the  complainant  prays  for  ? 


Fifth  Question. — Justices 
Gallegos,  Bocanegra,  and 
Astua  answered  in  the  nega- 
tive, and  Justices  Tide's  and 
Madriz  in  the  affirmative. 


Sixth  Question.— Justices 
Gallegos,  Bocanegra,  and 
Astua  answered  in  the  nega- 
tive, and  Justices  Ucles  and 
Madriz  in  the  affirmative. 


6 


82    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 


Seventh  Question. — Is  it  proven,  and 
should  it  be  held,  that  the  Government 
of  the  Kepublic  of  Guatemala  has  violated 
Article  17  of  the  Treaty  of  Peace  and 
Amity,  signed  at  Washington  on  Decem- 
ber 20,  1907,  by  failing  to  bring  to  the 
Capital  and  submit  to  trial  Honduranean 
exiles  who  endangered  the  peace  of  their 
country  ? 

Eighth  Question. — Is  it  proven,  and 
should  it  be  held,  that  the  Government  of 
the  Eepublic  of  Guatemala  has  violated 
Article  2  of  the  additional  convention  to 
the  said  treaty  by  fostering  and  promoting 
the  revolutionary  movement  referred  to  ? 

Ninth  Question. — Is  it  proven,  and 
should  it  be  held,  that  the  Government  of 
the  Bepublic  of  Guatemala  has  con- 
tributed to  the  realization  of  the  said 
political  disturbance,  through  culpable 
negligence  ? 

Tenth  Question.  —  In  consequence, 
should  the  Court  hold  that  the  action 
instituted  against  the  Government  of  the 
Kepublic  of  Guatemala  is  according  to 
law,  and,  if  so,  should  the  Government 
be  sentenced  to  pay  the  indemnity  for 
damages  the  complainant  prays  for  ? 


Seventh  Question.  —  Jus- 
tices Gallegos,  Bocanegra, 
Madriz,  and  Astua  answered 
in  the  negative,  and  Justice 
Tide's  in  the  affirmative. 


Eighth  Question.  —  Jus- 
tices Gallegos,  Bocanegra, 
Madriz,  and  Astua  answered 
in  the  negative,  and  Justice 
Ucles  in  the  affirmative. 


Ninth  Question. — Justices 
Gallegos,  Bocanegra,  Madriz, 
and  Astua  answered  in  the 
negative,  and  Justice  Ucles 
in  the  affirmative. 


Tenth  Question. — Justices 
Gallegos,  Bocanegra,  Madriz, 
and  Astua  answered  in  the 
negative,  and  Justice  Ucle's 
in  the  affirmative. 


Eleventh    Question. — Should  costs  be 
awarded  against  the  losing  parties  ? 


Eleventh  Question. — Jus- 
tices Gallegos,  Bocanegra, 
Madriz,  and  Astua  answered 
in  the  negative,  and  Justice 
"dele's  in  the  sense  that  costs 
be  awarded  against  the 
Governments  of  the  Bepub- 
lics  of  El  Salvador  and 
Guatemala. 

From  the  above-stated  result,  judgment  is  rendered  dismissing  the 
action  instituted  against  the  Governments  of  the  Bepublics  of  El  Salvador 

and  Guatemala  without  costs. 

JOSE  ASTUA  AGUILAE. 
SALVADOR  GALLEGOS. 
ANGEL  M.  BOCANEGRA. 
ALBERTO  UCLES. 
JOSE  MADRIZ. 
Witness :  ERNESTO  MARTIN,  Secretary. 


FINDINGS  OF  THE  COURT  83 

A  more  impudent  or  baseless  claim  than  that  put 
forward  by  Honduras,  and  decided  by  the  Central 
American  Court  of  Justice,  can  hardly  be  imagined. 
That  the  Honduranean  Government  would  ever  have 
thought  of  prosecuting  it  at  all  but  for  the  instigation 
from  its  immediate  neighbour  seems  hardly  probable. 

That  the  Court  should  have  found  a  decision  over- 
whelmingly in  favour  of  Salvador  and  Guatemala  was 
only  natural,  but  it  seems  unfair  that,  having  come 
to  that  inevitable  conclusion,  costs  should  not  have 
followed  the  event,  and  that  Honduras  should  not 
have  been  condemned  to  pay  them. 

There  is  but  one  consolation  (a  poor  one,  I  am 
afraid)  open  to  the  Republics  of  Guatemala  and 
Salvador  in  this  connection — namely,  that  had  the 
Court  ordered  Honduras  to  pay  the  costs  of  the 
inquiry,  it  would  never  have  done  so,  any  more  than 
it  has  paid  back  to  its  foreign  creditors  either  the 
principal  of,  or,  even  the  interest  upon,  the  money 
which  it  borrowed. 

Were  the  creditors  American  instead  of  British, 
some  satisfactory  settlement  would  have  been  arrived 
at  long  ago.  Even  as  it  is,  the  British  bondholders 
will  be  unable  to  obtain  a  settlement  of  any  kind 
without  recourse  to  American  interference,  and,  as  may 
be  well  believed,  it  will  be  upon  such  terms  as  the 
Americans  choose  to  approve  of,  and  subject  to  such 
profits  out  of  the  transactions  as  the  Americans  choose 
to  demand. 

It  is  satisfactory  at  least  to  observe  that  Hon- 
duraneau  impudence  did  not  succeed  in  the  above 
instance  in  getting  "any  rise"  out  of  either  Salvador 
or  Guatemala. 

That    the   relations   existing   to-day   between    the 


84     SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

two  Republics  of  Salvador  and  Honduras  are  upon 
a  more  friendly  basis,  and  that  they  are  destined 
to  so  remain  as  long  as  the  present  Governments  of 
the  two  countries  remain  in  power,  is  proved  from  the 
interchange  of  congratulatory  despatches  made  by 
Dr.  Bertrand,  President  of  Honduras,  and  Dr,  Manuel 
Enrique  Araujo,  President  of  Salvador,  in  the  month 
of  March  last,  and  copies  of  which  I  am  enabled  to 
give  in  this  volume.  The  correspondence,  conducted 
by  telegraph,  was  as  follows  : 

"  TEGUCIGALPA, 

"March  28,  1911. 

"  To  H.E.  the  President,  Dr.  Manuel  E.  Araujo, 
San  Salvador. 

"I  have  the  honour  to  bring  to  the  knowledge  of  Your 
Excellency  that  I  have  to-day  taken  possession  of  the  Presi- 
dency of  the  Republic  before  the  National  Congress.  In 
communicating  this  to  you,  I  take  pleasure  in  anticipating 
the  good  sentiments  that  animate  me  for  the  cultivation  of 
better  relations  with  the  Government  over  which  Your 
Excellency  so  worthily  presides,  presenting  to  you  at  the 
same  time  my  good  wishes  for  the  well-being  of  the  Republic 
and  for  Your  Excellency's  personal  happiness. 
"I  am,  Your  Excellency's  sincere 

and  devoted  servant, 

"  F.  BERTRAND." 

REPLY  FROM  THE  PRESIDENT  OF  SALVADOR. 

"  SAN  SALVADOR, 

"March  28,  1911. 

"  To  H.E.  President  Dr.  Bertrand,  Tegucigalpa. 

"  I  am  delighted  to  receive  Your  Excellency's  important 
message,  which  conveys  to  me  the  flattering  news  that  such 
a  distinguished  citizen,  to  whom  I  am  bound  by  chains  of 
fraternal  sympathy,  has  to-day  taken  possession  of  the 


HONDURAS  AND  SALVADOR 


85 


elevated  office  of  President  of  that  Republic.  Such  a  happy 
event  is  received  with  immense  rejoicing  by  my  Government 
and  the  general  'public,  because  it  implies  for  the  sister- 
Republic  of  Honduras  peace  and  progress.  I  send  good 
wishes  for  the  well-being  of  Your  Excellency,  to  whom  I  am 
pleased  to  offer  the  testimony  of  my  perfect  friendship  and 
sympathy. 

"MANUEL  E.  ARAUJO." 


CHAPTER  VII 

The  army — Division  of  'forces — Active  reserve — Auxiliary — Republic's 
fighting  strength — Military  education — Strict  training — Excellent 
discipline— Schools  and  polytechnics — Manual  training — Workshops 
and  output — Economies  in  equipments — Garrison  services — Barracks 
— Destruction  of  Zapote  Barracks — New  constructions  at  Capital, 
Santa  Ana,  Santa  Tecla,  Sitio  del  Nino,  Ahuachapan,  Cojutepeque, 
San  Miguel — Annual  expenditure. 

THE  National  Army  of  the  Republic  of  Salvador  is 
divided  into  three  main  sections,  each  of  which  is 
under  the  orders  of  a  Departmental  Commander,  the 
only  superior  to  whom  is  the  Minister  of  War.  In 
the  Department  of  San  Salvador,  which  comprises  the 
Capital,  the  command  of  the  troops  is  vested  in  the 
hands  of  the  Minister,  and  special  commissions  are 
held  in  connection  with  this  command.  The  first  of 
these  commissions  covers  the  Attached  and  Reserve 
Forces  of  the  whole  Department ;  the  second  relates 
to  the  Active  Forces  of  the  Department  quartered 
outside  the  Capital ;  and  the  third  deals  with  the 
two  military  zones  into  which  the  Military  District 
of  San  Salvador  is  divided. 

The  entire  strength  of  the  Salvadorean  Army  is, 
approximately,  as  follows  : 

Active  Force  consists  of  78  Staff  Officers,  512  Officers,  15,554  Troops, 
or,  approximately,  26  Battalions. 

Auxiliary.Force  consists  of  49  Staff  Officers,  356  Officers,  11,176  Troops, 
or  18£  Battalions. 

Reserve  Force  amounts  to  251  Senior  Officers,  1,743  Officers,  56,151 
Troops,  or  93£  Battalions. 

86 


COLONEL,  ADJUTANT,  AND  CAPTAINS  OF  COMPANY 


CADET  CORPS,  SCHOOL  OF  SERGEANTS. 


THE  ARMY  87 

This  gives  the  total  strength  of  the  Effective  Army 
as— 378  Senior  Officers,  2,611  Officers,  and  82,881 
Troops,  or  138  Battalions,  more  or  less. 

The  Government,  on  the  advice  of  the  late  President, 
General  Figueroa,  have  devoted  the  closest  care  and 
attention  to  the  question  of  military  instruction,  and 
the  system  at  present  in  force  is  the  outcome  of  the 
intelligent  study  of  similar  systems  in  force  in  other 
countries,  and  the  adaptation  of  the  best  features  exist- 
ing in  each.  A  very  high  esprit  de  corps  exists  among 
the  Salvadorean  troops,  and,  for  the  most  part,  they 
enter  upon  their  schooling  and  training  with  both 
zeal  and  interest.  It  must  be  remembered  that  a 
great  proportion  of  the  troops  are  merely  Indians  ; 
and  it  speaks  well  for  them  that  they  should  take 
so  kindly  to  a  course  of  what  really  amounts  to  mental 
and  physical  restriction,  which,  after  all,  is  an  experi- 
ence somewhat  different  to  what  they  and  their 
ancestors  have  been  accustomed,  except  when  serving 
as  serfs  under  a  brutal  Spanish  dominion. 

Conspicuous  success  has  attended  these  courses 
of  military  instruction,  especially  in  regard  to  the 
1st  Infantry  Regiment,  which  is  quartered  at  San 
Salvador,  and  to  the  1st  Artillery,  which  is  quartered 
at  Santa  Ana,  Here  the  men  punctiliously  attend 
the  lectures  upon  military  subjects  which  are  delivered 
by  the  regular  officers,  as  well  as  by  means  of  ordinary 
instruction  classes.  In  other  garrison  towns  night 
classes  are  held  regularly  each  evening  of  the  week, 
the  instructors  in  these  cases  being  the  officers 
quartered  with  the  garrison,  as  well  as  an  eminent 
German  Professor  (Herr  Alfred  Yischer)  who  was 
engaged  from  Germany  especially  to  impart  military 
education  to  the  Salvadorean  troops. 


88    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

A  School  for  Sergeants  and  Corporals  has  also  been 
established,  with  the  idea  of  training  these  non-com- 
missioned officers  for  appointments  to  higher  rank  in 
the  army.  This  school  was  some  time  ago  joined  to 
the  Polytechnic  Institute,  and  placed  under  the  com- 
mand of  the  Director  and  Sub-Director  of  the  latter 
institution  ;  but  subsequently,  owing  to  a  disastrous 
fire  which  broke  out  and  destroyed  a  portion  of  the 
Zapote  Barracks,  in  which  the  classes  were  custom- 
arily held,  the  two  schools  had  to  be  separated  and 
conducted  in  separate  establishments. 

It  is  characteristic  of  the  broad-mindedness  of  the 
Salvadorean  Government  that  among  the  instructors 
engaged  was  Colonel  Armando  Llanos,  of  the  Chilian 
Mission,  who  for  a  considerable  time  had  been 
Instructor  of  the  Polytechnic,  and  later  was  ap- 
pointed Director  and  Commandant  of  that  school.  In 
addition  to  the  Director  and  Sub-Director,  the  School 
for  Sergeants  and  Corporals  has  a  Doctor,  a  Pay- 
master, two  Captain  Instructors,  eight  official  Company 
Ensigns,  and  two  Civilian  Professors.  All  of  the 
officers  who  serve  in  this  corps  have  to  enter  through 
the  Polytechnic  School,  and  among  them  have  been 
many  distinguished  cadets. 

For  the  use  of  the  officers  there  exists  a  very  agree- 
able Club,  at  which  they  can  procure  their  full  meals 
and  all  kinds  of  light  refreshments  at  moderate  prices  ; 
while  the  usual  amusements,  such  as  drafts,  cards, 
billiards,  etc.,  are  provided  for  them.  So  comfortable 
is  this  Club  made  that  the  officers,  as  a  rule,  find  very 
little  inducement  to  visit  the  larger  towns  in  search 
of  their  amusements  ;  a  matter  of  great  importance  is 
this  to  them,  in  view  of  the  fact  that  the  barracks  are, 
as  a  rule,  situated  at  some  distance  from  the  City,  and 


MILITARY  EDUCATION  89 

railway  travelling  is,  under  any  circumstances,  rather 
expensive. 

In  addition,  this  school  has  a  number  of  workshops 
attached,  where  shoemaking,  blacksmi thing,  tailoring, 
beltmaking,  etc.,  are  carried  on,  the  output  providing 
the  principal  requirements  of  the  garrison,  including 
the  supply  of  uniforms  for  the  officers. 

The  staff  of  officers  and  cadets  of  this  school, 
together  with  the  troops  who  occupy  the  annex,  take 
part  in  periodical  reviews  and  manoeuvres ;  and  even 
severe  military  critics  have  been  obliged  to  admit  that 
the  smartness  and  orderliness  of  the  troops  are  in  the 
highest  sense  of  the  word  praiseworthy. 

The  course  of  instruction  which  is  followed  appears, 
indeed,  to  be  very  thorough,  while  the  examinations 
through  which  officers  have  to  pass  are  in  every  way 
drastic  and  thoroughly  "stiff."  The  Polytechnic  has 
turned  out  some  very  smart  officers,  the  supply  being 
fully  equal  to  the  demand. 

Of  late  the  Polytechnic  School  has  been  provided 
with  a  first-class  physical  and  chemical  laboratory, 
equipped  with  most  modern  apparatus.  The  annual 
expenditure  upon  this  establishment  may  be  put  at 
between  $65,000  and  $70,000,  which  includes  all  the 
salaries  paid  to  the  Professors  and  the  fees  to  the 
officers  who  deliver  lectures,  the  maintenance  of  the 
cadets  and  troops,  forage  for  their  horses,  and  all 
general  expenses. 

It  is  the  practice  at  these  schools  to  have  field-days, 
when  the  troops,  as  well  as  the  cadets  undergoing 
instruction,  take  part.  Upon  these  occasions  they  go 
through  most  of  the  features  of  an  ordinary  campaign, 
including  embarking  and  disembarking  upon  the  various 
lakes  and  inland  watercourses,  shooting  and  camp- 


90    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

pitching,  bridge-building,  and  a  thorough  training  in 
the  evolutions  of  field  artillery.  The  various  cadets 
who  are  attached  to  the  Engineers  Corps,  Telephone 
and  Telegraph  Sections,  and  Medical  Staff,  have  to 
go  through  courses  in  the  duties  of  these  particular 
branches  of  the  army  ;  and  it  is,  therefore,  quite  easy 
to  understand — when  one  considers  the  thoroughness 
of  the  training  in  all  branches  of  its  service — why  the 
Salvadorean  Army  should  stand  first  among  the  five 
Central  American  Republics  for  military  efficiency. 
That  such  training  is  thoroughly  effective  and  con- 
ducted with  the  best  morale  results  was  proved  in 
connection  with  the  earlier  unfortunate  trouble,  when 
many  of  the  officers  from  the  Polytechnic  Schools  dis- 
tinguished themselves  not  only  by  fighting  gallantly, 
and  in  some  cases  meeting  their  death  with  bravery, 
on  the  field  of  battle,  but  also  in  regard  to  the  skill 
and  ability  with  which  they  handled  their  troops, 
both  in  defence  and  in  attack. 

In  regard  to  the  garrison  services,  the  infantry  and 
cavalry  are  almost  exclusively  employed,  the  artillery 
being  quartered  both  in  the  Capital  and  the  City  of 
Santa  Ana.  The  officers  serve  for  one  year  certain, 
and  they  are  thus  afforded  every  opportunity  of 
acquiring  a  sound  and  finished  instruction,  and  of 
becoming  thoroughly  disciplined.  The  1st  Infantry 
Regiment  occupy  commodious  and  suitable  quarters, 
and  they  are  generally  noticeable  for  their  smartness 
and  soldierly  appearance,  when  both  on  and  off  duty. 
Santa  Ana  is  garrisoned  by  the  1st  Artillery  Regiment ; 
and  here,  again,  the  troops  are  comfortably  quartered, 
and  the  strictest  discipline  is  maintained.  The  barracks 
are  located  at  the  Casa  Mata,  an  old  but  commodious 
building,  which  has  been  remodelled  and  adapted  to 


ECONOMIES  IN  EQUIPMENTS  91 

present  -  day  requirements.  A  new  story  has  been 
added,  and  this  is  used  as  offices  for  the  Commanders 
and  Majors  of  the  corps,  while  one  side  of  the  building 
has  been  converted  into  extensive  stabling  for  twice 
the  number  of  animals  that  are  actually  needed. 

In  point  of  cleanliness  and  comfort  the  Casa  Mata 
Barracks,  as  well  as  those  at  the  Capital,  which  I  was 
invited  to  inspect,  leave  little  room  for  improvement ; 
and  it  is  worthy  of  remark  that  no  epidemic  of  any 
kind  has  broken  out  in  these  barracks  for  many  years 
past,  these  having  remained  perfectly  free  from  con- 
tagion even  when  smallpox  was  raging  in  some  other 
parts  of  the  Eepublic.  The  Military  Authorities  are 
commendably  particular  in  regard  to  vaccination  and 
re-vaccination,  not  only  when  the  troops  go  on  active 
service,  but  at  all  times.  There  is  a  well-maintained 
army  dispensary  attached  to  all  the  barracks,  and 
every  regiment  in  the  Republic  is  entitled  to  free 
supplies  of  medicine,  drugs,  and  attendance. 

While  duly  economical  in  regard  to  its  expenditure, 
and  zealous  in  seeing  that  nothing  is  wasted,  the 
Government  has  done  everything  that  is  necessary 
to  keep  the  troops  adequately  equipped  both  in  arms 
and  ammunition,  uniforms  and  supplies.  The  exten- 
sive and  efficiently-equipped  Government  workshops 
are  in  the  charge  of  a  German  mechanic,  and  here 
many  of  the  military  criminals,  who  are  confined  in 
the  Central  Prison,  are  taught  useful  trades,  and  their 
services  as  masons,  tailors,  and  mechanics,  are  employed 
to  good  purpose.  Some  capital  work  is  turned  out  in 
these  workshops,  such,  for  instance,  as  military  equip- 
ments, uniforms,  etc.  I  was  informed  that  during 
the  year  there  had  been  made  there  2,710  complete 
uniforms  for  the  infantry  and  artillery,  890  for  the 


92     SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

cavalry,  545  for  colour  sergeants,  200  for  the  port 
police,  258  for  marines ;  931  soldiers'  caps,  537 
cartridge-holders,  2,023  putties,  and  2,378  rifle-slings. 
Special  orders  had  been  executed  in  regard  to  22,914 
uniforms  and  11,311  caps,  giving  the  considerable 
total  of  27,447  uniforms  of  all  kinds,  besides  a  large 
number  of  heterogeneous  military  uniform  fittings. 

During  this  period  there  had  been  delivered  to  the 
different  garrisons  of  the  Eepublic  27,223  uniforms  of 
various  kinds;  14,299  caps;  5,840  scabbards  with 
their  ferrules;  2,550  kitbags;  1,200  blankets;  1,550 
pairs  of  cotton  gloves;  562  cartridge-belts;  1,790 
pairs  of  canvas  putties  ;  200  pairs  of  leather  spats  ; 
2,040  rifle-slings  ;  271  pallets  for  soldiers  ;  354  cloaks; 
600  pairs  of  gaiters ;  1,350  water-coolers;  450  canvas 
nosebags,  etc.  Although  the  not  inconsiderable  sum 
of  $151,723  was  expended  upon  these  and  other 
equipments,  it  will  be  readily  recognized  that  the 
Government  must  have  saved  enormously  in  its  ex- 
penditure by  employing  the  services  of  its  own 
workshops. 

It  is  desirable  to  say  something  in  regard  to  the 
character  of  the  buildings  which  the  Government  uses 
for  military  purposes.  Eeferences  have  already  been 
made  to  the  serious  conflagration  which  destroyed  the 
handsomest  and  most  generally  used  barracks  in  the 
Republic — viz.,  the  Zapote  building.  The  fire  broke 
out  on  March  27,  1908,  the  actual  cause  being  a 
mystery,  although  it  was  supposed  that  the  disaster 
had  its  origin  in  the  defective  installation  of  the 
electric  light,  a  badly  insulated  wire  having  been 
allowed  to  get  into  contact  with  one  of  the  wooden 
turrets.  The  building  had  been  almost  completed 
when  this  accident  took  place  ;  but  fortunately,  owing 


MILITARY  BARRACKS  93 

to  the  quick  services  which  were  rendered  by  the 
garrison  staff,  the  police,  and  some  volunteer  helpers, 
the  total  destruction  of  the  barracks  was  prevented, 
and  the  greater  part  of  the  war  material  stored  therein 
for  use  was  saved.  The  barracks  have  now  been  com- 
pleted, and  form  one  of  the  handsomest  blocks  of 
Government  buildings  in  the  Capital. 

In  Santa  Tecla,  which  is  situated  but  ten  miles 
distant  from  the  Capital,  a  large  and  handsome  block 
of  barracks  has  been  constructed,  and  is  also  practically 
complete,  the  work  having  been  in  hand  since  the 
year  1905,  but  progress  being  considerably  impeded 
from  time  to  time  through  various  causes.  It  seemed, 
indeed,  that  these  barracks  would  prove  something 
like  Cologne  Cathedral,  and  never  see  completion  ;  for 
as  soon  as  one  part  was  finished  the  work  was  arrested, 
and  before  any  new  addition  had  been  made  the  old 
part  had  fallen  into  decay.  Neighbouring  wars,  earth- 
quake shocks,  and  lack  of  necessary  funds,  all  played 
their  part  in  occasioning  these  delays ;  but  at  length 
the  building  may  be  pronounced  complete.  The  front 
is  constructed  in  two  stories,  the  three  other  sides 
being  in  one  story  only ;  and,  while  the  exterior  of 
the  building  is  constituted  of  handsome  cut  stone,  the 
interior  is  of  a  lighter  material  suitable  for  tropical 
residence.  There  have  been  over  50,000  blocks  of 
stone  cut  and  laid  for  the  frontage ;  the  total  cost  will 
doubtless  prove  to  be  heavy,  but  the  result  achieved 
will  have  been  worth  it. 

In  the  town  of  Sitio  del  Nino  new  barracks  have 
been  built  for  the  garrison,  an  expenditure  which  has 
been  rendered  necessary  in  view  of  the  advent  of  the 
railway  between  Acajutla  and  Santa  Ana,  which  crosses 
here,  and  forms  an  important  junction  and  stopping- 


94     SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

place  for  travellers.  The  barracks  took  several  months 
to  complete,  and  they  now  form  a  very  substantial 
addition  to  the  town's  notable  structures.  The  prin- 
cipal block  of  buildings  has  27  yards  of  frontage  by 
15  yards  of  width,  including  the  corridors  and  other 
buildings.  The  extent  of  frontage,  which  faces  the 
railway-station,  has  a  notable  elevation,  and  rests  on 
2  metres  of  stone  foundation,  one  course  below  the 
ground,  and  the  other  above  the  ground  level,  which 
is  considered  to  have  been  the  most  healthful  style 
to  have  adopted,  the  residential  part  of  the  building 
thus  being  elevated  appreciably  above  its  foundation. 

In  Ahuachapan  a  substantial  and  handsome  building 
for  barracks  is  also  being  erected,  the  chief  material 
employed  being  masonry,  while  the  whole  structure 
has  been  planned  with  a  view  to  defence  in  case  of 
necessity.  The  building  has  four  turrets,  one  situated 
at  each  corner,  in  addition  to  two  smaller  turrets  which 
are  placed  on  either  side  of  the  principal  gateway. 
The  thickness  of  the  walls  has  been  decided  upon  with 
the  idea  of  resisting  the  attack  of  artillery  of  the  kind 
usually  employed  in  these  countries.  The  interior  of 
the  building  is  constructed  of  unburnt  bricks,  the 
arrangement  being  of  the  utmost  simplicity,  the  archi- 
tect bearing  in  mind  that  the  building  is  destined  to 
be  used  entirely  for  troops,  workmen,  etc. 

In  Cojutepeque  a  block  of  barracks  is  about  to  be 
erected,  but  active  construction  will  be  postponed  until 
the  water-pipes,  which  are  now  being  laid  to  convey 
water  to  the  city,  have  been  completed.  In  San 
Miguel  various  additional  defence  works  have  been 
executed  at  the  existing  barracks,  while  others  have 
been  commenced,  the  Government  having  resolved  to 
make  San  Miguel  a  strongly  fortified  town.  New 


ANNUAL  EXPENDITURE 


95 


military  stables  have  been  added  to  the  cavalry 
barracks  at  Santa  Ana  ;  while  in  other  Departments 
of  the  Republic  a  considerable  number  of  important 
repairs  and  additions  to  military  buildings  have  been 
completed. 

From  first  to  last  the  annual  upkeep  of  the 
Salvadorean  Army,  including  both  equipment  and 
maintenance,  as  well  as  the  expenditure  upon  all 
the  military  educational  establishments,  payments  for 
the  services  of  the  national  steamer,  contributions  to 
volunteer  regiments,  reserve  squadrons,  etc.,  amounts 
to  nearly  $1,220,000  ;  and  taking  the  whole  of  this 
expenditure  for  both  War  and  Marine,  the  total  dis- 
bursement for  the  year  1908-09  stood  as  follows  : 

Private  staff  of  the  President              ..  73,113.73 

1st  Artillery  Regiment        ...              ..  155,155.69 

1st  Infantry  Regiment       ...              ..  461,596.39 

Cavalry  Regiment              ...              ..  125,670.58 

Polytechnic  School  (including  subs.  106,554.71 

School  of  Corporals  and  Sergeants    ..  100,887.38 

Volunteers  of  the  Capital   ...              ..  90,602.04 

Reserve  Squadron               ...              ..  52,393.87 

Band  of  Supreme  Power    ...              ..  45,741.59 
National  steamer  President  (from  January  to 

March                3,943.84 

$1,215,659.92 


CHAPTER  VIII 

British  Minister  to  Salvador — Lionel  Edward  Gresley  Garden — British 
Legation  hospitality  —  Mrs.  Garden  —  Government  indifference  to 
valuable  services  —  British  Consul  —  No  report  for  twenty  years  — 
Foreign  Office  neglect — Salvadorean  Consuls  and  their  duties  denned 
— Correspondence  with  the  Foreign  Office — Imports  and  Exports — 
British  Supremacy  in  1904— Germany's  position. 

FOE  some  reason  known  to  the  Foreign  Office,  but 
understood  and  appreciated  by  no  one  else,  Salvador  is 
incorporated  with  Guatemala,  Nicaragua,  and  Honduras 
in  its  representation  by  a  Minister-Resident  and  Consul  - 
General  combined.  Other  nations  in  Europe  of  less 
importance,  and  the  United  States  of  America,  are 
represented  by  separate  Ministers  and  Consuls- General, 
and  in  some  instances  by  both.  The  niggardly  Foreign 
Office,  however,  when  it  has  contributed  the  munificent 
sum  of  .£2,000  for  the  Minister- Resident's  salary,  and 
a  further  £300  as  office  allowance  as  well  as  £200 
for  the  Consul's  office  expenses,  has  done  all  that  it 
thinks  necessary  to  sustain  the  dignity  of  Great 
Britain  in  a  foreign  country  whose  people  are  pecu- 
liarly susceptible  to  compliments  of  this  kind,  and 
leaves  Salvador,  Guatemala,  Nicaragua  and  Honduras 
— separated  from  one  another  not  alone  by  hundreds 
of  miles  in  actual  distance,  but  by  many  days'  travel  on 
horseback  or  by  steamship — to  make  the  best  they  can 
of  the  arrangement.  The  inconvenience  alike  to  the 
particular  Minister,  to  the  British  subjects  living  in 

96 


PENITENTIARY  AT  SAN  SALVADOR. 


OFFICERS'  CLUB  ROOM,  MILITARY  POLYTECHNIC  SCHOOL 


THE  BRITISH  MINISTER  97 

these  Republics,  and  to  the  Governments  concerned, 
is  considerable,  and  at  times  becomes  of  very  serious 
import. 

The  British  Minister  to  Salvador  is  Mr.  Lionel 
Edward  Gresley  Garden,  a  man  of  altogether  excep- 
tional ability  and  culture,  a  born  diplomat,  and  one 
of  the  most  attractive  personalities  that  one  could 
meet  with.  He  was  born  in  1851,  and  is  a  son  of  the 
Rev.  Lionel  Garden,  of  Barnane,  Co.  Tipperary,  his 
mother  being  the  beautiful  Miss  Lucy  Lawrence 
Ottley ;  and  from  her  Mr.  Garden  has  doubtless 
inherited  much  of  his  physical  attractiveness.  Edu- 
cated at  Eton,  he  was  at  the  age  of  twenty-six  given 
his  first  Government  appointment,  namely,  that  of 
Vice-Consul  at  Havana,  Cuba,  in  1877.  A  few  years 
afterwards — namely,  in  1883 — Mr.  Garden  was  attached 
to  Sir  S.  St.  John's  Special  Mission  to  Mexico,  and  two 
years  later  he  was  appointed  H.B.M.'s  Consul  at 
Mexico  City.  It  was  then  that  his  valuable  services 
as  the  British  Commissioner  at  the  Mexican  Mixed 
Claims  Court  were  rendered,  the  Commission  sitting 
on  and  off  between  1885  and  1889.  While  in  Mexico 
Mr.  Garden  upon  two  occasions  took  entire  charge  of 
the  Legation,  and  in  1898  he  went  back  to  Cuba,  this 
time  as  Consul-General,  remaining  there  until  1902. 

Mr.  Garden  created  a  profoundly  friendly  feeling  for 
the  British  during  these  four  years,  and  he  is  still 
spoken  of  with  the  greatest  esteem,  not  only  by 
members  of  the  British  community,  but  by  the  Cubans 
themselves,  with  whom  he  was  always  persona  grata. 
In  1902  he  was  created  Minister  at  Havana,  and  he 
remained  there  until  1905,  when  he  took  up  his  present 
post  as  H.B.M.  Minister-Resident  and  Consul-General 
to  Salvador,  Guatemala,  and  Honduras. 

7 


98    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

Mr.  Garden  married  Miss  Anne  Eliza  Lefferts,  a 
daughter  of  Mr.  John  Lefferts,  of  "Flatbush,"  New 
York,  U.S.A.,  a  gracious  and  talented  lady  who,  by 
her  kindness  of  heart  and  refined  hospitality,  has 
endeared  herself  to  all  foreigners  resident  or  travelling 
in  Guatemala.  The  British  Legation,  one  of  the 
handsomest  residences  in  Guatemala  City,  is  the 
centre  of  much  friendly  and  cultured  intercourse,  not 
only  among  the  British  and  American  colonies,  but 
with  many  of  the  Guatemalan  notabilities  and  families. 

The  only  recognition  that  has  been  paid  by  the 
British  Government  to  Mr.  Garden  so  far,  in  connection 
with  his  long  and  valuable  services  in  Latin  America, 
has  been  the  bestowal  of  the  Coronation  Medal  in  1902. 
Beyond  relieving  him  in  1908  of  the  burden  of  repre- 
senting the  Government  in  Costa  Rica  in  addition 
to  Salvador,  Honduras,  and  Guatemala,  the  King's 
advisers  have  done  nothing  to  show  that  they  ap- 
preciate Mr.  Garden  or  recognize  the  onerous  and 
responsible  mission  which  he  has  had  to  fulfil.  And 
yet  he  is  both  by  education  and  temperament  essen- 
tially one  of  the  most  useful  and  reliable  diplomats 
that  the  Government  can  call  upon.  His  proper 
sphere  would  be  at  one  of  the  European  Courts,  or, 
better  still,  at  Washington,  where  his  valuable  and 
unique  knowledge  of  Latin-American  countries  and 
Governments  would  enable  him  to  more  adequately 
and  advantageously  represent  and  protect  British 
commercial  interests  than  does  the  present  complacent 
Minister,  who  suggests  the  idea  of  being  more  of  an 
American  in  his  sympathies  than  a  Britisher. 

It  will  be  scarcely  credible,  but  it  is  none  the  less 
a  fact,  that  the  British  Government  has  issued  no 
Consular  Trade  Report  upon  the  Republic  of  Salvador 


MR.  LIONEL  EDWARD  GRESLEY  GARDEN,  C.M.G. 

H.B.M.  MINISTER-RESIDENT  AT  SALVADOR  (AS  WELL  AS  AT  GUATEMALA,  NICARAGUA 
AND  HONDURAS.) 


BRITISH  CONSULAR  REPORT  99 

for  nearly  twenty  years  !     This  fact  is  set  forth  in  the 
following  correspondence  which  I  attach  : 

"  PONDTAIL  LODGE, 

"FLEET,  NORTH  HANTS, 

"  April  23,  1911. 

"  To  the  Right  Hon.  Sir  Edward  Grey,  Bart.,  Secretary  of 
State  for  Foreign  Affairs,  Foreign  Office,  Downing  Street, 
London,  W. 

"  SIR, — I  should  esteem  it  a  great  courtesy  if  you  would  let 
me  know  whether  any  Consular  Report  has  heen  published 
hy  the  Foreign  Office  in  connection  with  the  Republic  of 
Salvador;  what  was  the  date  of  such  report;  and  whether  any 
other  report  of  a  later  period  is  likely  to  be  published — and  if 
so,  when  ?  I  have  been  making  diligent  inquiries  with 
regard  to  this  matter,  but  can  obtain  absolutely  no  informa- 
tion, a  fact  which  seems  more  remarkable  in  view  of  the 
trade  relations  which  prevail,  and  have  for  so  many  years 
prevailed,  between  Great  Britain  and  the  Republic  of 
Salvador. 

"  My   interest   in   the   matter  must  plead  my  excuses  for 
troubling  you,  and  awaiting  your  courteous  reply, 
"  I  remain,  sir, 

"  Yours  obediently, 

"PERCY  F.  MARTIN/' 

"FOREIGN  OFFICE, 

"April  25,  1911. 

"  The  Under-Secretary  of  State  for  Foreign  Affairs  presents 
his  compliments  to  Mr.  P.  F.  Martin,  and,  by  direction  of  the 
Secretary  of  State,  acknowledges  the  receipt  of  his  letter  of 
the  23rd  inst.,  which  is  receiving  attention." 

"FOREIGN  OFFICE, 

"May  8,  1911. 

"  SIR, — With  reference  to  your  letter  of  the  23rd  ultimo,  I 
am  directed  by  Secretary  Sir  E.  Grey  to  transmit  to  you 


100    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

herewith,  a  copy  of  the  Consular  Trade  Report  for  Salvador 
for  the  year  1892,  which  is  the  last  received. 

"  I  am,  sir, 
"  Your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

"  (Signed)     W.  LANGLEY." 

"PONDTAIL  LODGE, 

"FLEET,  NORTH  HANTS, 

"May  9,  1911. 

"  To  the  Under- Secretary  of  State  for  Foreign  Affairs,  Foreign 
Office,  London,  W. 

"Mr.  Percy  F.  Martin  presents  his  compliments  to  the 
Under-Secretary  of  State  for  Foreign  Affairs,  and  begs  to 
acknowledge  the  receipt  of  a  copy  of  the  Consular  Report 
concerning  trade  in  Salvador  for  the  year  1892,  which  he 
notes  is  the  last  which  has  been  issued." 

It  may  be  asked  why  the  Foreign  Office  grants  an 
office  allowance  of  £200  to  the  Consul  at  San  Sal- 
vador if  the  services  of  that  gentleman  do  not  include 
the  supply  of  at  least  an  occasional  report  upon  the 
trade  conditions  of  that  important  country  ?  In  view 
of  the  fact  that  the  share  of  the  Republic's  trade  with 
Great  Britain  is  still  of  some  moment,  even  if  it  has 
shrunk  considerably  in  magnitude  from  what  it  formerly 
was,  it  seems  astonishing  that  not  a  word  concerning 
the  conditions  prevailing,  nor  of  the  opportunities  which 
exist  for  promoting  trade  in  that  country,  should  have 
emanated  from  a  Department  of  State  which  presum- 
ably exists  to  protect  the  interests  of  the  nation's 
trade  and  commerce  abroad. 

Assuredly,  never  at  any  time  were  the  stinging 
sarcasms  uttered  by  Burke,  concerning  Government 
services  of  this  kind,  in  1780,  more  deserved  than 
to-day.  In  his  memorable  speech  on  "  Economical 


U.S.  AND  BRITISH  CONSULAR  SERVICE       101 

Beform,"  Burke  observed  that  the  Board  of  Trade  was 
"  a  sort  of  gently  ripening  hothouse  where  members 
received  salaries  of  £1,000  a  year  in  order  to  mature 
at  a  proper  season  a  claim  for  £2,000."  If  our  Consuls 
are  expected  to  do  nothing  more  than  sit  in  their 
offices  in  order  to  qualify  eventually  for  a  pension, 
the  sooner  they  are  abolished  altogether  the  better 
for  the  country's  pocket. 

It  is  to  be  observed  that  certain  among  the  Latin- 
American  States  have  a  much  clearer  idea  of  the 
proper  qualifications  for,  and  the  functions  of,  a  Consul 
and  a  Vice- Consul  than  our  own  Foreign  Office,  which 
has  challenged  criticism  and  earned  condemnation  on 
account  of  the  ridiculous  appointments  which  it  has 
made,  and  continues  to  make,  to  such  offices.  Quite 
recently  the  Government  of  Salvador  published  a  very 
important  Begulation  relative  to  Consular  appoint- 
ments, and  this  contains  so  much  good  sense,  and 
offers  so  many  points  which  might  be  adopted  with 
advantage  by  our  own  "  Circumlocution  Office,"  that 
I  make  no  apology  for  reproducing  the  gist  of  it  here. 

According  to  Article  L,  Clause  (6),  of  this  Begulation, 
the  Consular  career  "  has  for  its  aim  above  all  to 
promote  and  increase  the  commerce  of  the  country, 
and  also  to  insure  for  it  social  and  political  represent- 
ation." Then  this  official  Begulation  gives  a  general 
review  of  the  obligations  imposed  upon  members  of  the 
Diplomatic  and  Consular  Corps,  and  adds  :  "  Certainly, 
in  order  to  fulfil  these,  special  knowledge  is  needed, 
which  can  only  be  acquired  by  patient  and  careful 
study.  Diplomats  and  Consuls,  who  go  to  represent 
Salvador  in  foreign  lands,  must  especially  be  present- 
able and  must  possess  individuality.  If  any  unfor- 
tunate circumstance  makes  them  appear  ridiculous, 


102    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY    j 

discredit  will  fall,  not  only  on  themselves,  but  on  their 
fellow-countrymen."     The  Regulation  continues  : 

"  Travellers  have  been  heard  to  say  that  they  have 
sometimes  found  the  Salvador  coat  of  arms  lying  in 
a  dark,  dirty  hovel,  or  in  close  proximity  to  a  pawn- . 
shop ;  whilst  some  diplomatists  have  been  rendered 
conspicuous  by  their  ignorance  of  the  language  and 
customs  of  the  country  to  which  they  have  been  sent, 
and,  above  all,  by  their  absolute  lack  of  patriotism. 
A  Professor  of  International  Law  has  related  of  an 
Envoy  Extraordinary  of  the  Republic  of  Salvador, 
that  he  once  had  to  be  arrested  by  the  police  in  the 
centre  of  the  City  of  Mexico  for  drunkenness." 

I  have  heard  of  at  least  one  British  diplomatic 
representative  in  South  America  who  ought  to  have 
been  arrested  for  a  similar  offence,  but  who  escaped 
the  indignity  by  reason  of  the  wholesome  respect 
which  the  Government  had  for  the  country  which  he 
represented,  even  if  it  had  none  for  the  representative. 

"  Consuls  and  diplomatists,"  goes  on  this  document, 
"  must  not  only  possess  special  knowledge,  but  must 
be  cultured  persons,  honourable,  tactful,  and  sym- 
pathetic." In  a  word,  they  must  possess  the  difficult 
gift  of  knowing  "  how  to  please." 

The  Regulation  does  not  actually  detail  these  latter 
qualities,  but  gives  it  to  be  understood  that  they  are 
indispensable.  It,  however,  emphasizes  the  necessity 
of  "  facility  of  expression "  as  an  attribute  of  the 
aspirant  to  the  Consular  and  Diplomatic  Service,  at 
the  same  time,  without  requiring  him  to  be  an  orator. 
He  must  be  capable  of  "  getting  out  of  a  difficulty 
decently,  without  making  himself  ridiculous." 

It  would  be  advisable,  the  Regulation  points  out, 
that  youths  who  possess  the  desired  qualifications 


SALVADOREAN  CONSULS  103 

should  be  employed  by  the  Government  in  subordinate 
positions  connected  with  the  Consulates  and  Legations, 
before  they  receive  higher  appointments  or  become 
Heads.  As  Secretaries  or  supernumeraries,  they  would 
have  an  opportunity  of  becoming  familiar  with  the 
language  and  customs  of  the  people  among  whom 
they  were  placed.  All  the  necessary  expenses  for 
this  arrangement  should  naturally  be  borne  by  the 
State. 

"  It  must  also  be  remembered,"  this  practical  Regu- 
lation continues,  "  that  those  who  fulfil  the  required 
conditions  are  losers  from  the  point  of  view  of  any 
financial  advantages,  since  for  some  time  their  remuner- 
ation will  not  equal  that  which  might  have  been 
gained  by  entering  commerce  or  professional  work. 
At  the  same  time,  youths  who  dedicate  themselves 
to  this  career  must  have  sufficient  patriotism  and 
ambition  to  figure  in  the  posts  of  honour.  No  time 
must  be  lost  in  the  task  of  training  up  Consuls,  and 
as  the  perfection  of  human  work  has  resulted  in  the 
evolution  of  specialists,  so  the  Government  must  not 
too  seriously  consider  the  question  of  economy,  but 
must  allow  these  young  men  to  be  sent  to  other 
countries,  and  to  remain  in  the  same  post  long  enough 
to  specialize  in  their  profession." 

According  to  the  new  laws  affecting  the  appoint- 
ment of  Consuls,  the  regulations  call  for  a  division  into 
two  distinct  ranks — consuls-general  and  consuls  de 
carriere  (irregular) ;  and  consuls  adhonorem  (honorary). 
The  first-named  are  appointed  to :  Hamburg  (Ger- 
many), Antwerp  (Belgium),  Barcelona  (Spain),  San 
Francisco  (U.S.A.),  Mexico  City  (Mexico),  Paris 
(France),  London  (Great  Britain),  Genoa  (Italy), 
Guatemala  City  (Guatemala),  Tegucigalpa  (Honduras), 


106    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 


geographical  advantage  which  the  latter  country 
possessed — and  still,  of  course,  possesses — over  Great 
Britain  or  s>uy  other  European  country.  Let  us  now 
glance  at  the  position  of  affairs  a  few  years  later  : 

IMPORTS  AND  EXPORTS  BY  COUNTRIES,  IN  GOLD  DOLLARS 

($4.85  =  £1). 

IMPORTS. 


Year. 

Country. 

Amount. 

Percentage. 

1904 

England 
Germany 
United  States 
Other  countries 

$ 
1,304,576 
404,422 
1,002,437 
898,642 

36-1 
11-2 

27-8 
24-9 

EXPORTS. 


Year. 

Country. 

Amount. 

Percentage. 

1904 

England 
Germany 
United  States 
Other  countries 

1,482,319 
958,533 
1,103,030 
3,091,563 

22-4 
14-4 
16-6 
46-6 

It  will  be  observed  that  Great  Britain  in  1904  actually 
led  in  the  Republic's  trade  with  foreign  countries  ;  but 
nevertheless  the  Foreign  Office  deems  this  fact  so 
unimportant  that  it  will  not  trouble  to  publish  a 
syllable  concerning  the  commerce  of  that  Republic,  for 
the  information  of  the  industrial  and  trading  world. 

The  average  total  of  the  foreign  trade  of  the 
Republic  of  Salvador  may  be  taken  as  $10,600,000 
(gold),  or,  say,  £2,120,000,  with  a  balance  of  $2,250,000 
(gold),  or,  say,  £450,000,  in  favour  of  the  Republic. 
And  it  is  when  we  come  to  analyze  the  imports  from 
foreign  countries  that  we  recognize  how  closely  Great 
Britain  and  the  United  States  run  together,  and  how 


TRADE  STATISTICS 


107 


greatly  we  have  to  fear  our  keen  American  rivals  as 
competitors.  For  the  year  1909  we  see  that — 

Great  Britain  sold  to  Salvador  goods  worth       ...     $1,438,613.90 
United  States  „  „  „  ...       1,344,315.79 

A  trifling  balance  in  favour  of  Great  Britain  of          $94,298.11 

— or,  say,  £18,859.  Our  principal  trade  was  in  cotton, 
both  manufactured  and  yarn  ;  while  the  United  States 
took  premier  place  in  flour,  hardware,  drugs  and 
medicines,  boots,  shoes,  machinery,  and  agricultural 
implements.  In  these  latter  goods  no  country  can 
touch  the  United  States  for  cheapness  and  general 
novelty ;  but  it  is  only  fair  to  add  that  the  goods  are 
"made  to  sell,"  or,  in  other  words,  they  are  "cheap 
and  nasty  " — a  fact  which  the  purchasers  are  finding 
out  for  themselves.  Until  British  manufacturers  ex- 
port something  considerably  cheaper  than  the  imple- 
ments and  farm  machinery  that  they  supply  at  present, 
the  Americans  will  continue  to  hold  this  market.  The 
Germans  barely  as  yet  have  made  much  impression 
with  their  agricultural  implements.  Although  upon 
some  of  the  fincas  which  I  visited — mostly  owned  or 
managed  by  Germans — I  came  across  some  ploughs 
and  reaping  machines  from  the  Fatherland,  I  was 
frankly  informed  that  they  were  entirely  unsatisfactory, 
and  were  about  to  be  discarded  in  favour  of  some 
United  States  machines  which  had  been  offered  "  at 
one-half  the  price  paid  for  the  German  inventions." 

STATEMENT  OF  EXPORT  TRADE  TO  JUNE  30,  1910. 


Country. 

Value  of  Exports. 

Country. 

Value  of  Exports. 

Germany 
United  States 
France 
Italy    

$ 
1,410,693.10 
1,358,868.85 
1,043,402.71 
584,312.60 

Austria-Hungary 
Great  Britain    ... 
Spain     

1 
388,035.33 
352,843.73 
164,907.21 

108    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 


These  figures  are  remarkable  for  the  fact  that  they 
show  inter  alia  that  Germany  had  in  the  course  of 
twelve  months  ousted  France  from  first  place  on  the 
export  list,  and  had  supplanted  her  by  an  extra- 
ordinary amount  of  advance.  To  prove  this  I  give 
the  official  figures  for  the  first  half  of  1909,  and  which 
are  as  follows  : 


France  took  goods  value 

Germany 

United  States 

Italy 

Spain 

Great  Britain 


1,062,674 
837,040 
636,721 
352,122 
281,961 
111,312 


It  would  therefore  appear  that,  while  Germany 
increased  her  trade  with  Salvador  from  $837,040  in  1909 
(six  months)  to  $1,410,693  in  1909-10  (twelve  months), 
France  showed  a  decrease  over  the  same  period  of  from 
$1,062,674  to  $1,043,402.  Great  Britain's  position  is 
so  inferior  as  to  need  no  comment  whatever. 

It  will  be  noticeable  that  Germany  was  in  1910  the 
best  customer  to  the  Republic,  and  took  fully  four 
times  as  much  of  her  produce  as  Great  Britain.  The 
greatest  amount  was  represented  by  coffee,  as  will  be 
seen  from  the  subjoined  particulars  of  the  class  of 
articles  which  were  exported,  as  well  as  from  the 
values  which  I  add  : 


Article. 

Value. 

Article. 

Value. 

Coffee         
Gold,  silver,  lead   .. 
Sugar  (brown) 
Indigo 
Balsam  and  balsam- 
seed 
Cattle  and  hides     .. 

$ 
4,661,440.98 
560,569.64 
222,379.47 
107,936.72 

39,187.97 
36,167.46 

QQ  AQ~l    KQ 

Tobacco    (manufac 
tured  and  leaf)    . 
Lumber 
Eice 
Deerskins  ... 
Hat  palms  ... 
Miscellaneous 

$ 

9,638.67 
3,773.07 
3,312.23 
2,837.63 
2,723.21 
23,247.92 

Total     

5,696,706.85 

TRADE  STATISTICS  109 

That  the  Germans  mean  to  thoroughly  exploit  the 
Eepublic  of  Salvador,  moreover,  and  if  they  cannot 
secure  a  holding  in  one  branch  of  trade  they  intend 
to  try  in  another,  or  in  a  dozen  others,  is  abundantly 
clear.  In  the  month  of  September,  1909,  a  Treaty  of 
Commerce  between  the  Republic  and  Germany  was 
celebrated,  and  so  far  the  results  have  been  very 
encouraging.  Out  of  463  steamers  and  89  sailing 
vessels  which  visited  the  different  Salvadorean  ports 
last  year  (1909-10),  during  the  first  nine  months  there 
were  153  German,  as  against  245  United  States,  79 
Salvadorean,  74  Honduranean,  and  not  one  British 
bottom. 


CHAPTER  IX 

United  States  information  for  traders — Improved  Consular  services — 
Mr.  W.  E.  Coldwell— United  States  and  Salvador  Government — 
Bureau  of  Pan-American  Republics — Mr.  Mark  J.  Kelly — Exceptional 
services — The  American  Minister,  Major  W.  Heimke — Salvadorean 
Minister  to  U.S.A.,  Senor  Federico  Mejia — Central  American  Peace 
Conference  and  the  United  States. 

How  beneficial  is  the  attitude  of  the  United  States 
of  America  in  collecting  and  disseminating  every 
particle  of  information  which  can  prove  of  the  slightest 
service  to  American  traders !  Month  by  month,  through 
the  medium  of  the  Pan-American  Bureau  Bulletin,  a 
Government-endowed  institution  journal  of  the  utmost 
utility,  not  only  to  American  traders,  but  to  those 
of  every  country  of  the  world,  every  item  of  com- 
mercial, industrial,  and  financial  information  culled 
from  Latin- American  countries  is  published  in  tabular 
form,  and  supplied  at  a  merely  nominal  figure  to  all 
who  care  to  avail  themselves  of  it.  Such  information 
is  primarily  the  result  of  the  researches  and  the  reports 
made  by  United  States  Consuls  in  the  countries  men- 
tioned, and  it  is  perfectly  certain  that  none  are  per- 
mitted to  enjoy  "  allowances  "  of  £200  a  year,  as  is  our 
Consul  at  San  Salvador,  without  showing  something 
in  return  for  such  payment  in  the  shape  of  a  report 
of  some  kind  or  other. 

Here  I  may  record  that  of  Mr.  Walter  Edmund 

Coldwell,  our  unsalaried  Consul  at  San  Salvador,  I  have 

no 


IGNORING  CONSULAR  SERVICES  111 

nothing  whatever  to  say  but  what  is  complimentary, 
since  he  is  personally  a  very  amiable  and  courteous 
gentleman,  ready  and  willing  at  any  time  to  aid  any 
Britisher  seeking  his  advice,  and  which,  in  view  of 
his  experience  and  complete  knowledge  of  Spanish,  is 
certainly  of  great  value.  I  feel  certain  that,  had  any 
request  come  from  the  Foreign  Office  addressed  to 
Mr.  Coldwell  for  a  report  upon  trade  conditions  and 
prospects  in  Salvador,  he  would  have  been  perfectly 
prepared  to  supply,  as  he  is  undoubtedly  capable  of 
supplying,  it  in  view  of  his  long  residence,  extending 
over  twelve  years.  I  go  further,  and  suggest  that  had 
Mr.  Coldwell  not  waited  for  any  such  request,  but 
had  acted  upon  his  own  initiative  and  sent  in  a  report 
to  the  Foreign  Office,  such  would  either  have  been 
pigeonholed  or  the  Consul  have  been  snubbed  for  his 
pains.  It  cannot  be  too  often  observed,  nor  too 
emphatically  pointed  out,  that  it  is  not  the  officials 
of  our  Consular  Service  who  are  wholly  to  blame ;  it 
is  the  "  System  "  perpetuated  by  successive  Govern- 
ments— it  matters  not  one  pin's  head  whether  they  be 
Liberals  or  Conservatives  or  a  hybrid  mixture  of  many 
political  parties — which  is  all  wrong,  and  the  ignorant 
and  indifferent  Permanent  Officials  at  Downing  Street 
who  are  responsible  for  the  appalling  condition  of 
incompetency  which  our  Consular  Service  to-day 
displays. 

The  following  incident  will  show  with  what  care 
and  attention  the  Government  of  the  United  States 
follow  every  little  incident  and  occurrence  that  can  in 
any  way  affect  trade  relations  between  themselves  and 
the  smaller  Latin- American  States.  In  the  month  of 
February,  1909,  the  United  States  Minister  sent  to 
his  Government  a  complaint  to  the  effect  that  the 


SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

Salvadorean  Government  allowed  favoured  -  nation 
treatment  to  certain  articles  of  French  origin  im- 
ported into  the  Republic,  which  treatment  was  not 
accorded  to  similar  articles  from  the  United  States. 
The  United  States  Government  at  once  instructed  the 
Minister  at  San  Salvador  to  ask  for  an  explanation, 
and  he  as  promptly  got  it ;  not,  perhaps,  in  the  precise 
terms  which  he  could  have  wished,  but — he  got  it ! 
The  answer  came  from  the  Minister  for  Foreign  Affairs 
in  the  following  terms  : 

'  The  Treaty  of  Peace  and  Amity,  Commerce  and  Consular 
Rights  celebrated  between  Salvador  and  the  United  States 
on  December  6,  1870,  having  become  inoperative  by  reason  of 
the  denunciation  of  the  same  on  the  part  of  the  Government 
of  Salvador,  in  accordance  with  the  prearranged  conditions 
from  May  30,  1893,  merchandise  proceeding  from  the  United 
States  can  only  be  accorded  such  treatment  in  the  Customs 
Houses  of  Salvador  as  is  provided  for  in  the  general  tariff  law 
of  the  Republic,  without  special  concessions  or  privileges." 

The  answer  was  so  convincing  and  so  conclusive 
that  the  United  States  Government  forthwith  pro- 
ceeded to  celebrate  a  fresh  Treaty  with  the  Republic, 
and  has  since  then  enjoyed  all  the  privileges  which 
such  can  procure. 

Upon  a  previous  occasion — namely,  in  1907 — the 
United  States  Vice-Consul  in  San  Salvador  having  re- 
quested from  the  Government  of  the  Republic  a  general 
statement  of  economic  conditions  prevailing  throughout 
the  country,  the  reply  was  published  very  soon  after- 
wards in  the  form  of  an  elaborate  and  complete  account 
of  the  commercial,  industrial,  and  financial  conditions  of 
the  Republic,  the  whole  taking  up  the  greater  portion 
of  a  special  number  of  the  Diario  Oficial.  One  cannot 
imagine  a  British  Consul  having  the  enterprise  to  make 


SALVADOR  AND  THE  UNITED  STATES        113 

any  such  request  from  a  foreign  Government  to  which 
he  is  accredited,  although  the  information,  if  sought, 
would  be  as  readily  forthcoming  as  it  was  for  an 
American  Vice-Consul.  But  when  we  witness  the 
sorry  spectacle  of  British  officials  allowing — or  being 
allowed — twenty  years  to  pass  by  without  having 
issued  any  kind  of  report  for  the  information  of  his 
countrymen,  what  can  be  expected  ? 

The  United  States  Secretary  of  State  officials,  who 
are  so  ably  assisted  by  the  co-operation  of  the  Pan- 
American  Bureau  and  its  admirable  monthly  publi- 
cation, The  Bulletin,  deserve  every  credit  for  the 
unflagging  interest  which  they  manifest  in  promoting 
and  assisting  their  country's  trade  abroad.  In  this 
matter,  at  least,  we  might  advantageously  follow  the 
example  of  our  Transatlantic  competitors.  As  it  is, 
we  should  feel  deeply  grateful  to  the  American  Govern- 
ment for  periodically  issuing  information  which  is  as 
accessible  to  Britishers,  or  to  any  other  nationalities, 
as  to  the  Americans  themselves.  And  it  costs  us 
nothing  ;  which  should  be  gratifying  to  that  large  class 
of  individuals  who  enjoy  getting  something  without 
putting  their  hands  into  their  own  pockets. 

It  seems  a  very  remarkable  fact  that  Salvador,  like 
a  great  number  of  other  Latin- American  States,  has 
been  enabled  to  find  in  Great  Britain  a  thoroughly 
capable  and  influential  Consular  representative,  while 
Great  Britain  has  so  signally  failed,  except  in  some 
few  instances,  in  securing  similar  representatives 
abroad.  Nor  is  this  circumstance  the  less  noteworthy 
when  it  is  observed  that  the  Salvadorean  Consul- 
General  in  London  is  not  a  native  of  that  Republic, 
but  an  Irishman,  and  is  probably  one  of  the  first — 
if  not  the  only — Irishman  who  has  filled  a  similar 


114    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

position.  Mr.  Mark  Jamestown  Kelly,  F.R.G.S., 
F.S.A.,  etc.,  has  been  the  Consular  representative  of 
both  the  Republics  of  Salvador  and  Honduras  for  over 
fifteen  years,  and  it  is  only  within  the  past  few  months 
that  he  has  been  compelled,  owing  to  continued 
pressure  of  work  in  connection  with  the  chairmanship 
of  the  Salvador  Railway  Company,  to  abandon  his 
consular  position  in  regard  to  Salvador.  How  greatly 
the  Government  of  that  State  regretted  Mr.  Kelly's 
retirement,  and  how  strong  was  the  pressure  brought 
to  bear  to  induce  him  to  withdraw  his  resignation, 
was  fully  evidenced  in  a  remarkable  letter  of  thanks 
which  the  Government  addressed  to  Mr.  Kelly  lately, 
and  from  which  the  following  is  a  brief  extract.  After 
referring  in  eloquent  terms  to  the  deep  disappointment 
which  the  Government  felt  at  Mr.  Kelly's  inability  to 
reconsider  the  question  of  resignation,  and  having 
announced  that  the  Executive  had  therefore  most 
reluctantly  accepted  the  inevitable,  and  had  arranged 
to  send  over  at  an  early  date  a  representative  to 
relieve  Mr.  Kelly  of  his  official  duties.  Dr.  Manuel  E. 
Araujo,  the  President  of  the  Republic  (who  has  long 
been  personally  acquainted  with  Mr.  Kelly),  addressed 
him  as  follows  : 

"I  deplore  profoundly  your  resignation  of  the  business  of 
the  Consulate-General,  which  with  so  much  tact  and  industry 
you  have  been  discharging  during  so  long  a  lapse  of  time; 
and  your  resignation  of  your  post,  being  based  upon  reasons 
which  I  cannot  set  aside,  has  this  day  at  last  been  accepted  by 
niy  Government,  but  with  the  hope  that  you  will  always  con- 
tribute in  one  way  or  another  with  the  very  valuable  contingent 
of  your  wisdom  and  experience  in  all  matters  relating  to  the 
good  name  and  honour  of  Salvador.  I  tender  to  you  in 
consequence,  in  my  own  name  and  in  that  of  my  country,  the 
most  whole-souled  thanks  for  the  very  important  services 


MR.  MARK  JAMESTOWN  KELLY,  F.R.G.S. 

FOR  15  YEARS  CONSUL-GENERAL  IN  GREAT  BRITAIN  FOR  SALVADOR  (RETIRED  JUNE,  191 1), 
AND  CHAIRMAN  OF  THE  SALVADOR  RAILWAY  COMPANY,  LD. 


MR.  M.  J.  KELLY  115 

which  you  have  afforded  to  us  in  the  past,  and  which  we  do 
not  doubt  we  shall  continue  to  receive  from  your  well-known 
magnanimity." 

Mr.  Kelly  has  undoubtedly  rendered  lasting  and 
exceptional  services  to  the  State  of  Salvador  during 
the  long  period  over  which  he  has  represented  its 
commercial  and  financial  interests  in  this  country. 
As  its  Financial  Agent  in  Europe,  he  carried  out  the 
long  and  difficult  negotiations  which  ended  in  success- 
fully settling  and  discharging  the  foreign  debt  of  the 
Republic,  and  permitted  of  that  great  undertaking, 
the  construction  of  a  through  line  of  railway  from  the 
port  of  Acajutla  to  the  Capital  of  San  Salvador,  being 
financed  and  completed.  Last  year  Mr.  Kelly  also 
negotiated,  with  much  tact  and  conspicuous  ability, 
a  new  Salvador  Foreign  Loan,  which  to-day  ranks 
as  a  gilt-edge  security  on  the  London  Stock  Exchange, 
and  stands  at  a  substantial  premium. 

Besides  his  Consular  appointments,  Mr.  Mark  J. 
Kelly  holds  the  positions  of  Chairman  of  the  Salvador 
Railway  Company,  Limited,  and  President  of  the 
Salvador  Chamber  of  Commerce  in  London  ;  while  he 
is  generally  regarded  as  one  of  the  greatest  living 
authorities  upon  the  questions  of  foreign  exchange  and 
Latin- American  commerce. 

For  many  years  Mr.  Kelly  was  identified  with  railway 
construction  in  Ecuador  and  later  on  with  Salvador,  and 
his  great  charm  of  manner,  coupled  with  his  extraordi- 
nary grasp  of  detail  and  intimate  knowledge  of  finance 
in  all  its  aspects,  have  combined  to  make  his  co-opera- 
tion in  financial  and  commercial  matters  a  question  of 
the  greatest  value  to  the  latter  country  mentioned,  as 
well  as  to  all  who  have  invested  money  therein. 
Mr.  Kelly  is  a  perfect  Spanish  scholar  ;  and  when  I  was 


116    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

travelling  with  him  in  Salvador,  many  of  the  natives 
•with  whom  we  conversed  frankly  informed  me  that, 
but  for  his  distinctive  European  name,  Mr.  Kelly 
might  very  well  pass  for  a  pure-bred  Spaniard  or 
Spanish-American,  so  admirably  did  he  converse  in 
and  write  their  language.  Of  the  newly  appointed 
Salvadorean  Consul-General,  Senor  Don  Artiiro  Ramon 
Avila,  I  have  spoken  in  Chapter  III. 

Major  the  Hon.  William  Heimke,  who  was  appointed 
the  Minister  of  the  United  States  of  America  to  Sal- 
vador in  1909,  is  a  native  of  France,  having  been  born 
in  that  country  in  1847  and  naturalized  in  the  United 
States.  He  went  to  America  at  a  very  early  age,  and 
entered  the  regular  army  when  he  was  but  fifteen. 
He  served  with  distinction  during  the  Civil  War,  being 
engaged  in  several  important  battles.  After  the  war 
he  served  as  headquarters  clerk  under  Generals  Sher- 
man, Pope,  Hancock,  and  Sheridan,  and  he  was  also 
in  the  Quartermaster's  and  Commissary  Departments. 
In  1881  he  became  purchasing  agent  for  the  Mexican 
Central  Railroad,  and  in  1883  was  appointed  general 
manager  of  the  Chihuahua  and  Durango  Telephone 
Company  in  Mexico.  In  1887  he  again  entered  the 
service  of  the  United  States  as  Vice -Consul  at 
Chihuahua.  He  was  advanced  to  Consul  in  1892, 
and  retired  in  1893.  In  1897  he  became  Second 
Secretary  of  the  United  States  Legation  in  Mexico, 
and  was  promoted  First  Secretary  of  their  Legation 
in  Bogota,  Colombia,  in  1906.  He  was  appointed 
Envoy  Extraordinary  and  Minister  Plenipotentiary  to 
Guatemala  on  March  10,  1908.  Major  Heimke  is  a 
member  of  the  American  Academy  of  Economic,  Social, 
and  Political  Science  of  Philadelphia,  and  of  the  Inter- 
national Folk  Lore  Society  of  Chicago. 


MAJOR  w.  HEIMK£  117 

One  of  the  kindest  and  most  hospitable  of  men, 
Major  Heimke,  in  conjunction  with  his  charming  wife, 
a  lady  of  the  greatest  culture  and  artistic  tastes,  makes 
his  home  one  of  the  most  pleasant  places  for  Americans 
and  foreigners  alike  sojourning  in  San  Salvador.  Major 
and  Mrs.  Heimkd  have  firmly  established  themselves 
in  the  regard  and  the  esteem  of  the  Salvadoreans  ; 
and  they  are  undoubtedly  the  most  popular  diplomatic 
representatives  of  the  United  States  of  America  who 
have  occupied  the  Legation. 

The  Salvadorean  Minister  to  the  United  States  of 
America  is  Sefior  Federico  Mejia,  who  is  one  of  the 
most  prominent  men  in  his  country,  having  for  some 
time  been  Minister  of  Finance  and  Public  Credit. 
Upon  his  introduction  to  his  present  office  on  April  6, 
1907,  he  was  officially  received  by  President  Roosevelt, 
and  upon  this  occasion  Senor  Mejia  said  : 

"  Mr.  President :  I  have  the  honour  to  place  in  your  hands 
the  autograph  letter  by  which  I  am  accredited  as  Envoy 
Extraordinary  and  Minister  Plenipotentiary  of  the  Govern- 
ment  of  Salvador,  near  the  Government  of  Your  Excellency. 
I  present  to  you  at  the  same  time  the  letters  of  recall  of  my 
distinguished  predecessor,  Dr.  Don  Jose  Eosa  Pacas. 

"Nothing  could  be  more  pleasing  to  me  than  the  honour 
of  conveying  to  Your  Excellency  the  expression  of  my 
Government's  wish  to  maintain  and  draw  closer,  if  that  were 
possible,  the  friendly  relations  which  happily  exist  between 
our  two  countries ;  and  in  the  discharge  of  the  duties  of  the 
mission  which  is  entrusted  to  me,  I  shall  spare  no  effort  to 
voice  faithfully  the  sentiments  of  the  Salvadorean  people, 
trusting  that  I  shall  meet,  in  so  doing,  the  same  cordiality  and 
interest  you  have  manifested  in  the  cause  of  the  welfare  of  my 
country,  and  that  of  the  other  States  of  Central  America. 

"Accept,  Sir,  the  wishes  that  I  make  in  the  name  of  the 
President  of  Salvador,  and  in  my  own,  for  the  prosperity  and 


118    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

further  aggrandizement  of  the  great  American  nation,  and  for 
the  health  and  personal  welfare  of  Your  Excellency  " 

To  this  friendly  and  well-expressed  address  Presi- 
dent Roosevelt  replied  in  equally  felicitous  terms  as 
follows : 

"  Mr.  Minister :  I  receive  with  great  pleasure  the  cordial 
sentiments  of  friendship  to  which  you  give  expression,  both 
for  your  Government  and  for  the  Salvadorean  people.  Enter- 
taining the  most  sincere  wishes  for  the  prosperity  and  happi- 
ness of  your  countrymen,  and  having  at  heart  the  continuation 
and  strengthening  of  the  good  relations  which  have  already 
subsisted  between  our  two  countries,  I  assure  you  of  my 
co-operation  in  your  aim  to  that  end.  I  have  no  doubt  that, 
while  worthily  representing  the  Government  by  which  you  are 
accredited,  you  will  so  conduct  your  mission  as  to  merit  and 
receive  the  sincere  friendship  and  high  regard  of  that  of  the 
United  States.  I  am  glad,  therefore,  to  greet  you  as  Envoy 
Extraordinary  and  Minister  Plenipotentiary  of  Salvador  to 
the  United  States.  I  beg  that  you  will  convey  to  the 
President  of  Salvador  my  cordial  appreciation  of  his  message 
of  goodwill  to  me  personally,  and  for  the  prosperity  of  the 
United  States,  and  assure  him  of  my  earnest  reciprocation  of 
his  wishes.  For  your  own  good  wishes  I  thank  you ;  and  1 
trust  you  will  find  your  residence  with  us  to  be  most  agreeable." 

On  December  20,  1907,  the  Central  American  Peace 
Conference,  held  in  Washington,  concluded  a  Con- 
vention providing  for  meetings  of  Central  American 
Conferences  to  be  convened  on  January  1  of  each  year 
for  a  period  of  five  years,  with  the  object  of  agreeing 
upon  the  most  efficient  and  proper  means  of  bringing 
uniformity  into  the  economical  and  fiscal  interests  of 
the  Central  American  States.  The  Peace  Conference 
designated  Tegucigalpa,  Honduras,  as  the  place  of  the 
first  meeting  of  the  Central  American  Conference,  and 
prescribed  that  the  Conference  should  choose  the  place 


SIDE  VIEW  OF  "EL  ROTULO"  BRIDGE 


THE  NATIONAL  ROAD  LEADING  TO  LA  LIBERTAD,  SHOWING  "EL  ROTULO" 

BRIDGE. 


PEACE  CONFERENCE  119 

for  holding  the  next  Conference,  and  so  on  successively 
until  the  expiration  of  the  Convention  concerning  future 
Central  American  Conferences. 

The  first  Central  American  Conference,  which  met  in 
Honduras  on  January  1,  1909,  selected  San  Salvador 
as  the  place  for  holding  the  second  Central  American 
Conference,  which  was  underlined  for  January  1,1910. 
For  unavoidable  reasons  the  members  of  the  Conference 
could  not  meet  in  San  Salvador  on  the  date  prescribed, 
and  the  President  of  the  Republic,  acting  in  conformity 
with  Article  II.  of  the  aforesaid  Convention  of  the 
Peace  Conference,  postponed  the  meeting  of  the  second 
Central  American  Conference  until  February  1  of  the 
same  year,  which  met  on  that  date  and  concluded  its 
work  on  the  fifth  day  of  the  same  month. 

The  results  obtained  by  the  Conference  were  the 
celebration  of  six  Conventions,  all  of  which  were  signed 
on  February  5  of  last  year.  The  first  of  these  Con- 
ventions provides  for  the  establishment  in  Costa  Rica 
of  a  pedagogic  institute  for  Central  America  ;  the 
second,  for  the  unification  of  the  Consular  service  abroad 
of  the  five  Republics  ;  the  third  provides  for  monetary 
uniformity  on  a  gold  basis  ;  the  fourth,  for  Central 
American  commercial  reciprocity  ;  the  fifth,  for  the 
adoption  of  the  metric  system  of  weights  and  measures ; 
and  the  sixth  defines  the  functions  of  each  Government 
toward  the  Central  American  bureau  in  Guatemala. 


CHAPTER  X 

Latin-American  trade  and  British  diplomacy— Serious  handicap  inflicted 
by  the  Government — Sacrificing  British  interests  to  American  sus- 
ceptibilities— The  British  Foreign  Office's  attitude  towards  its  diplo- 
matic representatives — Why  British  trade  has  been  lost  to  Salvador 
— Free  Trade  and  its  advocates — The  Salvadorean  view— German 
competition — Methods  of  bribery  in  vogue — The  Teutonic  code  of 
trade  honour. 

IF  ever  the  secret  veil  which  shrouds  diplomacy  in  all 
countries  from  betrayal  could  be  drawn  aside,  and  some 
wholesome  sidelights  could  now  and  again  be  thrown 
upon  the  proceedings  of  our  responsible  Ministers,  a 
great  many  disquieting,  and  even  alarming,  things 
would  come  to  light.  These  would  show,  for  example, 
that  the  great  declension  in  British  trade  during  the 
past  few  years  has  been  in  a  very  considerable  measure 
due  to  the  astounding  character  of  the  British  Govern- 
ment's instructions  to  representatives  abroad  in  regard 
to  the  attitude  of  the  United  States  of  America.  It 
will  be  news — and  very  disquieting  news — to  the 
general  public  to  know  that  every  effort  has  been 
made  by  our  Government  to  consult  the  wishes  and 
the  feelings  of  the  United  States  in  reference  to  almost 
every  trade  treaty  which  has  been  either  suggested  or 
entered  into.  The  failure  of  our  diplomats  abroad  to 
carry  to  a  successful  issue  a  commercial  treaty  proposed 
or  desired  has  not  infrequently  been  attributed  to  the 
neglect,  or  perhaps  to  the  inability,  of  the  particular 

120 


THE  AMERICAN  BUGBEAR 

Minister  employed.  In  practically  every  case,  how- 
ever, it  would  be  fairer  to  place  the  blame  for  the 
failure  upon  the  shoulders  of  the  Foreign  Office. 

I  know  of  several  cases  in  which  this  is  the 
undoubted  and  undeniable  cause  of  the  breakdown  of 
our  negotiations  in  the  very  moment  of  their  imminent 
success.  A  craven  and  absurd  desire  not  to  "  hurt 
the  feelings"  of  our  greatest  rivals  and  our  most 
clever  competitors — the  Americans — has  dictated  a 
policy  which  has  resulted  in  the  earnest  efforts  of  our 
skilled  and  able  diplomatic  representatives  abroad 
being  absolutely  wasted,  and  they  themselves  being 
placed  in  a  deeply  humiliating  position,  which  I  need 
not  say  has  been  as  keenly  resented. 

This  was  the  case  with  a  highly  important  treaty 
which  we  were  upon  the  point  of  completing  with 
Cuba ;  it  has  been  the  case  with  a  similar  agreement 
entered  into  tentatively  with  the  Republic  of  Honduras, 
and  it  has  been  so  likewise  with  the  Republics  of 
Guatemala  and  Salvador.  With  how  many  other 
possible  excellent  trade  markets  it  has  also  had  effect 
I  do  not  know  ;  but  it  is  not  very  difficult  to  imagine. 

So  pronounced  has  this  policy  become  of  late,  that 
it  is  now  having  a  decidedly  bad  effect  upon  our  com- 
mercial and  financial  relations  generally  with  the 
Latin  -  American  Republics.  Formerly  these  small 
independent  States  looked  upon  Great  Britain  as  the 
one  Power  to  whom  appeals  could  be  made  in  all 
matters  of  dispute,  no  matter  about  what  or  between 
whom,  with  a  moral  certainty  of  a  just  and  impartial 
decision  being  given.  This  was  in  the  days  when 
Great  Britain  still  preserved  her  dignity  and  inde- 
pendence of  thought,  and  before  her  Government  had 
learned  to  truckle  to  the  bluff  of  the  Roosevelt- 


SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

Philander  Knox  diplomacy.  To-day,  although  there 
is  more  reason  than  ever  to  ask  for  the  calm  and 
disinterested  advice  of  Great  Britain  in  the  numerous, 
and  even  dangerous,  questions  which  are  continually 
arising  between  the  Latin- American  Republics  and 
the  United  States  of  America,  it  is  recognized  by  the 
former  that  it  is  entirely  useless  to  appeal  to  Caesar 
any  longer,  since  Caesar  has  become  an  advocate  for, 
or  a  creature  of,  the  United  States,  and,  so  far  from 
acting  as  judge,  merely  now  pleads  as  an  amateur 
attorney. 

It  is  necessary  to  travel  in  these  Latin- American 
countries  to  thoroughly  comprehend  the  full  effect  of 
this  mistaken  and — I  do  not  hesitate  to  apply  the 
term — degrading  British  policy.  The  result  is  that 
the  Republics  themselves  deride  us,  the  United  States 
laugh  at  us,  and  our  trade  is  meantime  leaving  us. 
The  small  Republics  are  frightened  to  enter  into  any 
private  negotiations  with  our  diplomatic  representa- 
tives, since  they  are  fearful,  in  the  light  of  previous 
unfortunate  experiences,  that  their  secrets  may  in  due 
course  be  revealed  to  Washington  as  a  sop  to  the 
United  States,  and  that  their  efforts  to  strengthen 
their  commercial  bonds  with  us  will  merely  serve 
to  embitter  their  own  relations  with  the  powerful 
Americans,  and  without  in  the  least  improving  their 
position  with  Great  Britain. 

It  is  almost  inconceivable  that  our  Foreign  Office 
should  ask  the  opinion,  and  to  all  intents  and  purposes 
solicit  the  approval,  of  the  United  States  before  com- 
pleting any  trade  compact  with  the  Latin- American 
Republics.  What  our  Government  has  to  fear  or  to 
hope  for  from  the  United  States,  Heaven  only  knows ; 
nevertheless  it  is  the  sanction  of  Washington  which 


BRITISH  DIPLOMACY 

is  sought  for  before  any  treaty  can  be  now  concluded 
with  any  of  the  Latin- American  States ;  and,  what  is 
much  more  sad  to  have  to  add,  without  such  sanction 
no  treaty  seems  possible.  That  the  United  States  of 
America  is,  or  ever  has  been,  foolish  enough  to  consult 
our  Government  under  similar  circumstances  is  not 
upon  record. 

Our  Ambassador  Extraordinary  and  Plenipotentiary 
to  the  United  States  of  America,  the  Right  Hon. 
James  Bryce,  is  credited,  by  those  who  are  privileged 
to  know  him,  with  the  decidedly  Utopian  idea  of  asso- 
ciating the  trade  aspirations  of  both  America  and 
England  in  Latin-America.  It  is  doubtful  if  there 
exists  another  equally  eminent  individual  in  the 
world  who  entertains  any  such  wild  and  impossible 
notion.  It  would  be  as  easy  to  associate  fire  and 
water  as  to  form  a  bond,  or  even  an  understanding, 
between  the  traders  of  America  and  England,  since 
they  are,  and  always  must  be,  keen  rivals  in  the 
markets  of  the  world.  Mr.  Bryce  thinks,  perhaps, 
that  it  is  feasible  to  divide  up  the  universe  into  com- 
mercial and  financial  zones,  which  shall  be,  thereafter, 
apportioned  among  the  United  States  and  Great 
Britain  for  their  lasting  benefit  ?  He  must  be  a  very 
innocent  and  a  very  unimaginative  individual  if  this 
be  his  conception  of  the  methods  of  latter-day  trade 
competition.  Mr.  Bryce  has  perhaps  cherished  the  idea 
that  our  common  language  should  form  a  bond  of 
union,  and  that  this  should  become  the  central  pivot 
upon  which  our  relations  with  the  United  States 
should  revolve  ?  He  is  even  credited  with  the  aspira- 
tion that  a  Customs  Union  might  be  formed  on  the 
basis  of  reciprocal  Free  Trade,  with  mutual  advantage 
to  all.  The  commercial  jealousy  between  the  two 


SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

nations  has  upon  more  than  one  occasion  been  demon- 
strated, as  witness  the  disputes  some  years  ago,  and 
the  Venezuelan  boundary  embroglio,  which  nearly 
precipitated  a  conflict  between  the  two  countries. 

But  whatever  be  Mr.  Bryce's  precise  ideas,  the  fact 
remains  that  he  has  viewed  with  but  little  favour  any 
treaty  of  trade  and  commerce  which  our  diplomatic 
representatives  abroad  may  have  suggested  where  the 
interests  of  the  United  States  of  America  were  likely 
to  suffer.  The  Foreign  Office,  holding  this  distin- 
guished diplomat — as  indeed  they  may  justly  do — in 
high  esteem,  have  consulted  him  upon  most  matters 
of  trade,  commerce,  and  finance  affecting  the  smaller 
Latin-American  Republics.  The  Foreign  Office,  on 
the  other  hand,  have  deemed  it  expedient  to  refer 
matters  to  Washington,  with  the  result  that  not  only 
have  our  private  negotiations  with  these  small  inde- 
pendent States  become  the  common  knowledge  of  our 
American  trade  rivals,  but  those  representatives  who 
negotiated  the  treaties  have  been  rendered  ridiculous 
and  contemptible,  while  our  manufacturers  at  home 
have  been  deprived  of  the  benefits  attaching  to  the 
most  favoured  nation's  agreements,  such  as  the  United 
States  has  itself  acquired  in  other  directions,  without 
having  previously  consulted  Downing  Street  or,  indeed, 
caring  one  rap  whether  it  was  agreeable  or  not.  To 
the  Foreign  Office,  therefore,  the  commercial  and 
trading  communities  of  Great  Britain  owe  a  deep 
debt  of  gratitude ! 

For  Mr.  James  Bryce  as  an  individual  it  is  impossible 
to  feel  anything  but  esteem  and  regard,  since  he  ranks 
as  one  of  the  most  distinguished  and  illustrious  scholars 
of  the  day.  The  author  of  such  monumental  works  as 
"  The  Holy  Roman  Empire,"  "  The  American  Common- 


MR.  BRYCE 

wealth,"  "Studies  in  History  and  Jurisprudence,"  and 
"  Studies  in  Contemporary  Biography,"  must  always 
rank  as  a  man  of  great  ability  and  intellect.  But, 
unfortunately,  Mr.  Bryce  has  graduated  in  a  school 
of  diplomacy  which  has  clouded  his  horizon  and 
diminished  his  chances  of  attaining  any  independent 
and  untrammelled  view  of  Britain's  commercial  needs 
and  the  Empire's  industrial  obstructions  abroad.  As 
Under- Secretary  for  Foreign  Affairs  in  1886,  and  as 
President  of  the  Board  of  Trade  in  1894,  Mr.  Bryce 
was  encumbered  with  all  the  machinery  of  permanent 
officialdom,  and  was  unable  to  see  anything  of  this 
country's  foreign  trade  matters  except  through  the 
narrow  and  often  perverted  views  of  his  subordinates. 

I  am  very  much  afraid  that  this  has  interfered  with 
some  of  his  subsequent  policy ;  but  of  later  years  he 
has  put  himself  to  the  trouble — let  us  hope  that  it 
was  also  a  pleasure — of  seeing  something  of  Latin- 
America,  and  how  British  trade  has  to  fight  its  way 
there,  an  experience  which  might  have  been  of  great 
benefit  to  Mr.  Bryce,  and  of  incalculable  advantage 
to  British  trade  in  Latin- America,  if  it  had  taken 
place,  say,  some  five  or  six  years  previously. 

As  a  writer  upon  academical  and  historical  subjects 
probably  Mr.  Bryce  has  few  equals,  and  still  fewer 
superiors  ;  but  when  discussing  British  interests  and 
making  treaties  for  promoting  British  trade  in  com- 
petition with  American  manufacturers,  a  child  might 
do  better  for  our  side  than  Mr.  Bryce  could  have, 
or  at  least  has,  done.  It  is  easy  to  understand  why 
he  should  be  so  extremely  popular  with  our  friends 
the  North  Americans,  and  why  his  presence  as  our 
Ambassador  should  prove  so  welcome  and  so  gratifying 
to  the  acute  authorities  at  Washington.  A  malleable 


126    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

diplomat  who  sees  so  closely  eye  to  eye  with  them  in 
arranging  or  defeating  commercial  treaties  which  could 
in  any  way  be  regarded  as  likely  to  injure  or  to  delay 
United  States  interests,  is  naturally  a  most  desirable 
acquisition ;  Mr.  Bryce  has  satisfactorily  answered  to 
these  requirements,  and,  indeed,  must  have  frequently 
astounded  his  American  friends  by  his  complacency 
and  conciliatory  attitude  when  discussing  British 
interests. 

In  Mr.  Philander  Knox,  Mr.  James  Bryce  has  had 
one  of  the  very  cleverest,  and  I  may  add,  least 
impressible,  of  American  statesmen  to  deal  with,  and 
it  will  remain  to  be  seen  in  the  future  how  much 
Mr.  Knox  got  out  of  Mr.  Bryce,  and  how  much  or  how 
little  Mr.  Bryce  squeezed  out  of  Mr.  Knox.  "  He  who 
sups  with  the  devil  needs  a  long  spoon,"  and  it  will  be 
interesting  to  learn,  as  we  shall  do  no  doubt  ere  long 
in  connection  with  the  Anglo-American  Arbitration 
Treaty,  the  exact  length  of  Mr.  Bryce's  "  little  concave 
vessel,"  as  the  Dictionary  describes  it. 

Mr.  Bryce,  who  is  a  profound  Latin  scholar,  will 
not  have  failed  to  have  noted  Cicero's  observations  in 
his  "De  Officiis":  "  Sed  tamen  difficile  dictu  est, 
quantopere  conciliat  animos  hominum  comitas  affabili- 
tasque  sermonis  ";  or,  let  us  put  it :  "  It  is  difficult  to 
tell  how  much  men's  minds  are  conciliated  by  a  kind 
manner  and  a  gentle  speech,"  and  in  both  such 
attributes  the  courteous  and  amiable  Secretary  of 
State  at  Washington  excels. 

In  March  of  1908  the  representatives  of  the  Govern- 
ments of  Salvador  and  the  United  States  signed,  at 
the  capital  of  the  first-named  Eepublic,  a  convention 
determining  the  status  of  the  citizens  of  either  country 
who  renew  their  residence  in  the  country  of  their 


MR.  E.  G.  SQUIER  127 

origin.  This  convention  is  found  of  great  utility  to 
the  United  States  citizens,  more  so  even  than  to  those 
of  Salvador.  There  is  no  such  convention  in  force 
between  this  Republic  and  Great  Britain. 

In  the  previous  year  (1907)  the  Government  of 
Salvador  determined  to  establish  a  permanent  Lega- 
tion at  Washington,  "  so  that  the  friendly  relations 
now  existing  between  the  two  Governments  may  be 
continued  on  a  more  intimate  basis,  and  in  order  that 
the  good  counsel  of  the  United  States  may  be  more 
readily  sought  and  obtained." 

As  far  back  as  1850  the  American  Minister  of  the 
day,  Mr.  E.  G.  Squier — who,  by-the-by,  was  a  former 
husband  of  the  well  -  known  American  newspaper- 
owner,  Mrs.  Frank  Leslie  —  negotiated  a  treaty  with 
Don  Agustin  Morales,  Plenipotentiary  of  Salvador, 
which  subsequently  received  the  requisite  ratification 
on  both  sides,  has  since  been  renewed,  and  is  in  full 
force  and  effect.  It  secured  to  the  citizens  of  the 
United  States  all  the  rights,  privileges,  and  immu- 
nities of  the  citizens  of  Salvador  in  commerce,  naviga- 
tion, mining,  and  in  respect  of  holding  and  transferring 
property  in  that  State.  It  guaranteed  to  the  American 
citizens  resident  in  the  country  full  protection  'and 
enjoyment  of  religious  freedom,  and,  in  short,  every 
other  right  and  privilege  which  has  been  conceded  in 
any  treaty  negotiated  between  the  United  States  and 
any  other  nation  in  the  world. 

Owing  to  the  extraordinary  energy  and  unmistak- 
able ability  displayed  by  Mr.  Charles  H.  Sherrill,  the 
late  popular  and  able  United  States  Minister  at  Buenos 
Aires,  contract  after  contract  which  should — or  at 
least  might — have  gone  to  British  manufacturers,  have 
been  secured  for  America.  I  need  only  mention  two 


128     SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

instances  :  one  for  the  building  of  the  three  Dread- 
noughts which  are  now  being  constructed  in  United 
States  yards  ;  and  the  other  an  order  for  fifty  locomo- 
tives for  the  Government  railways,  which  might — and, 
again,  probably  would — have  gone  to  British  shops. 
While  the  United  States  Minister  did  his  level  best 
for  his  countrymen,  and  for  which  he  deserves  every 
credit  and  congratulation,  and  while  his  efforts  on  their 
behalf  were  smiled  upon  with  approval  by  the  American 
Secretary  of  State,  the  British  Minister,  locked  up 
behind  his  customary  reserve  and  official  dignity, 
neither  could  nor  would  move  a  finger  to  help  British 
manufacturers  in  their  struggle  against  this  serious 
competition. 

It  seems,  indeed,  strange  that  where  American, 
German,  French,  Italian,  and  Belgian  diplomats  con- 
sider it  by  no  means  beneath  their  dignity,  or  as  at 
all  outside  their  sphere,  to  personally  influence  trade 
orders  for  their  countrymen,  the  usual  type  of  British 
diplomat  raises  his  hands  in  horror  at  the  mere  sug- 
gestion of  a  Legation  condescending  to  recognize  the 
existence  of  trade,  repelling  with  frigid  dignity  any 
suggestion  that  the  representative  of  the  British 
Government  should  concern  himself  with  anything  of 
a  purely  commercial  or  industrial  nature. 

That  the  United  States  diplomats  do  not  stand 
alone  in  their  gallant  efforts  to  support  American  trade 
and  commerce,  and  that  they  are  not  singular  in  the 
supposition  that  the  whole  duties  of  an  Ambassador 
or  Minister  are  confined  to  Government  functions  and 
meaningless  ceremonies,  is  proved  by  the  energy  which 
is  displayed  by  some  German  diplomats,  who  are  very 
often  instrumental  in  checking  the  energy  and  frustrat- 
ing the  success  of  their  American  competitors.  It 


DIPLOMACY  AND  TRADE  129 

was  only  in  the  month  of  March  last  that  Mr. 
H.  T.  Schwerin,  of  the  Pacific  Mail  Steamship  Com- 
pany, in  testifying  before  the  Senate  Committee  on 
Interoceanic  Canals,  then  sitting  at  Washington, 
declared  that  his  own  company  had  lost  60  per  cent,  of 
its  carrying  business  to  German  lines  largely  through 
the  activity  of  the  German  Minister  to  Mexico,  who 
had  successfully  exercised  his  diplomatic  influence  in 
extending  German  commerce  in  Central  America. 
Distressing  as  this  must  have  been  to  our  good 
American  friends,  I  do  not  think  that  the  information 
will  be  received  with  feelings  of  much  regret  by 
British  readers,  especially  as  it  will  appear  to  them  in 
the  light  of  "  poetic  justice,"  since  British  commercial 
and  industrial  circles  in  the  Argentine  Republic,  as 
elsewhere,  have  suffered  in  exactly  the  same  manner 
at  the  hands  of  the  Americans. 

The  trade  of  Central  America,  as  has  been  shown, 
is  very  largely  in  the  hands  of  the  Germans,  for,  not 
content  with  the  representation  of  their  own  industries 
and  manufactures,  a  great  proportion  of  our  own 
"  British  "  Vice-Consuls  are  Germans  by  birth,  if  not 
by  choice.  Thus,  in  both  Guatemala  and  Honduras 
our  trade  interests  are  to-day  partially  represented 
by  Teutons.  It  can  scarcely  be  on  account  of  there 
being  no  genuine  Britishers  available,  since  I  have 
encountered  several  Englishmen  who  could,  and  doubt- 
less would,  act  as  Vice- Consuls,  or  merely  as  Consular 
Agents,  if  necessary. 

Undoubtedly  the  Germans  rank  among  the  most 
capable  of  the  foreign  traders  doing  business  in  these 
countries,  as  they  put  themselves  to  the  greatest 
amount  of  trouble  to  study  the  people  and  the  local 

9 


130    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

conditions — much  more  so  than  either  the  British  or 
the  Americans. 

The  German  is  not  only  among  the  earliest  of  risers 
in  the  morning  and  the  latest  to  seek  his  rest  at  night, 
his  store  being  always  the  first  to  open  and  the  last  to 
close,  but  he  avoids  politics,  and  discreetly  retires  into 
obscurity  at  the  first  intimation  of  internal  trouble. 
He  studiously,  if  not  willingly,  falls  into  the  ideas 
and  complies  readily  with  the  wishes  of  the  country, 
no  matter  what  forms  they  may  assume ;  and  he  is 
hardly  ever  known  to  complain  to  or  about  anyone. 
He  knows  full  well  that  it  would  be  useless  to  do  so  to 
his  home  Government,  which,  like  our  own,  seldom 
concerns  itself  with  the  personal  affairs  of  its  subjects 
abroad,  this  being  one  of  the  reasons  why  the  Germans 
so  cordially  hate  their  own  people,  and  especially  the 
official  classes.  With  them  it  is  indeed  an  absorbing 
hatred,  and  they  do  not  hesitate  to  confess  to  it. 

No  other  foreigner  earning  his  living  abroad  seems 
to  possess  the  same  gift  for  small  economies  as  the 
German,  nor  his  ability  for  steering  a  clear  path  among 
the  numerous  spies  and  agents  who  abound  in  some  of 
the  politically-ridden  countries.  The  Germans,  both 
in  their  trade  and  their  social  relations  with  the  natives, 
are  "all  things  to  all  men."  They  are  apparently 
thoroughly  at  home  among  them.  One  hardly  ever 
hears  of  a  German  becoming  involved  in  political  trouble 
or  failing  in  his  business.  He  thrives  as  no  other 
foreigner  in  these  lands  of  difficulties  and  intrigues. 
It  is  clear,  however,  why  and  how  he  manages  to  do 
so.  And  for  him  there  is  no  such  thing  as  a  Monroe 
Doctrine,  which  was  once  denounced  by  Bismarck  as  a 
"piece  of  international  impertinence."  As  often  as 
not  he  marries  a  native,  and  loses  his  identity. 


KNTRANCE  TO  AVENIDA  LA  CEIBA  AT  SAN  SALVADOR. 


THE  FAMOUS  AVENIDA  UNDER  CONSTRUCTION. 


THE  UBIQUITOUS  GERMAN  131 

As  an  instance  of  the  German's  enterprise  may  be 
cited  the  supply  of  cloths  and  hats  for  the  natives 
which  are  found  exclusively  in  Bolivia,  the  same 
individual  trading  in  Peru,  however,  bringing  out  quite 
a  different  class  of  stuffs  and  styles  for  that  country. 
The  ordinary  British  or  American  manufacturer  would 
probably  contend  that  it  would  be  useless  or  unprofit- 
able to  make  special  materials  or  designs  of  this  kind 
so  entirely  unlike  anything  before  attempted,  and  he 
would  leave  the  matter  just  there.  Not  so  with  the 
observant  travelling  German.  He  first  studies  the 
question  of  demand,  then  he  sends  a  complete  range 
of  patterns  and  samples  from  the  looms  of  the  native 
manufacturers  to  his  house  in  Germany.  In  a  few 
months'  time  there  arrive  in  the  country  the  German 
imitation,  and,  first  in  small,  then  in  ever-increasing 
quantities,  is  built  up  a  connection  ;  and  where  the 
Salvadorean,  Guatemalan,  Bolivian,  or  Peruvian  im- 
porter finds  his  materials  and  his  hats,  he  buys  most 
of  his  other  miscellaneous  European  goods,  so  as  to 
have  but  one  account  and  one  customer. 

Then,  in  regard  to  credits,  the  German  is  most 
accommodating,  granting  payments  over  twelve, 
eighteen,  and  even  twenty- four  months,  and  never 
asking  any  interest  upon  his  outstanding  accounts. 
How  he  does  it  is  a  mystery,  more  especially  as  his 
prices  in  no  way  exceed,  and  in  the  majority  of 
instances  are  below,  the  prices  of  other  European  and 
American  houses,  while  the  number  of  his  bad  debts 
is  considerable.  Probably  there  is  a  seamy  side  to  all 
this  promiscuous  trading  by  the  German  houses  ;  but 
if  there  is,  there  must  likewise  be  some  decided 
advantages  accruing,  since  no  one  would  credit 
Teutonic  manufacturers  and  dealers  with  motives  of 


SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

philanthropy.  But  whether  their  commercial  dealings 
with  the  Latin-American  races  be  profitable  or  profit- 
less, it  is  beyond  question  that  they  are  extending, 
and  extending  rapidly — all  of  which  means  that  there 
is  so  much  smaller  a  field  for  other  countries.  These 
specimens  of  Bolivian  hats,  Peruvian  dress-cloths, 
Mexican  rebosos,  and  Guatemalan  mantillas,  made  in 
Germany,  resemble  in  every  way  the  native  manu- 
factures— so  closely,  indeed,  that  they  cannot  be  told 
from  the  original  except  by  an  expert.  The  Germans 
are  actually  making  all  these  articles,  exporting  them 
to  these  countries,  and  selling  them  there  more  cheaply 
than  the  native  article.  The  question  is,  "  How  can 
they  do  it  ?" 

It  is  decidedly  useful  to  come  abroad  to  such 
countries  as  the  Latin-American  States,  if  only  to 
glean  a  few  opinions  as  to  the  position  which  Great 
Britain  occupies  in  the  minds  of  the  people  of  these 
regions.  There  are  many  individuals  whose  judg- 
ments are  well  worth  recording,  since  while  they  may 
have  gathered  their  ideas  from  trading  only — and, 
indeed,  few  of  them  have  been  outside  the  borders  of 
their  own  State — are  sufficiently  shrewd  in  their 
criticisms  to  make  these  latter  worth  observing. 

The  good  people  of  Salvador,  like  a  great  many 
other  experienced  individuals,  both  in  Latin- America 
and  elsewhere,  know  the  advantages  to  be  derived 
from  a  system  of  Protection,  and  they  are  at  a  com- 
plete loss  to  understand  how  it  is  that  Great  Britain 
alone  among  the  trading  nations  of  the  world  can 
"  afford  " — that  is  the  expression  used — to  admit  a 
policy  of  Free  Trade,  and  especially  in  view  of  the 
Empire's  Colonies'  well-known  feelings  on  the  subject. 
Here,  as  elsewhere,  the  advantages  of  Free  Trade  are 


FREE  TRADE  AND  RECIPROCITY  133 

admitted  ;  but  without  some  form  of  retaliation  it  is 
absurd  to  suppose  that  any  other  nations  will  ever 
accept  it.  The  opinion  in  general  in  these  countries, 
where  local  manufactures  are  gradually  commencing 
to  make  themselves  a  potent  object  of  attention,  is  that 
Free  Trade  is  desirable  for  all  raw  materials,  but  that 
a  duty  should  be  imposed  upon  all  manufactured 
articles,  whether  they  compete  with  local  productions 
or  no. 

These  Latin- American  critics  can  but  observe  how 
the  export  trade  of  other  foreign  countries,  such  as 
Germany,  the  United  States,  and  France,  is  con- 
tinually increasing,  while  that  of  Great  Britain,  where 
it  does  not  exhibit  positive  signs  of  decay,  remains  in 
a  stagnant  condition.  This  state  of  things  is  attri- 
buted to  Great  Britain's  adherence  to  Free  Trade,  and 
the  system  of  Protection  adopted  by  its  competitors. 
I  have  not  encountered  a  single  individual  with  whom 
I  have  discussed  such  matters  as  these  who  does  not 
hold  the  opinion  that,  without  reciprocity,  real  Free 
Trade  is  an  impossibility.  These  intelligent  people 
are  just  as  convinced  that,  were  Great  Britain  to  tax 
those  countries  which  protect  their  industries  against 
it,  they  could  before  long  be  forced  to  adopt  Free 
Trade  also  ;  and  if  they  did  not  do  so,  Great  Britain 
could  and  should  continue  to  tax  them  until  they  did. 
They  can  see  quite  clearly  that  the  interests  of  the 
producer  and  consumer  are  so  closely  interwoven  and 
connected  that  any  injury  to  the  trade  of  the  former 
at  once  reacts  on  to  the  latter  ;  in  slack  times,  as 
these  Latin- American  races  have  good  reason  to  know, 
it  is  really  the  consumer  who  is  most  seriously  affected, 
since  his  very  existence  depends  upon  the  producer 
a.nd  manufacturer*  Thus  any  action,  they  very  sen- 


134    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

sibly  argue,  which  serves  to  revive  or  to  promote 
trade  must,  of  a  necessity,  increase  the  prosperity  of 
all.  It  is  strange,  indeed,  that  such  a  view  should  be 
so  clear  to  individuals  living  out  here,  and  remain 
absolutely  obscure  to  those  thousands  of  individuals 
at  home. 

Our  great  strength  in  these  Latin- American  countries 
has  always  been  our  textile  manufactures,  and  it  is 
here  that  we  are  being  attacked  by  both  the  United 
States  and  Germany.  The  former  have  successfully 
imitated  most  of  the  English  designs,  and  these,  com- 
bined with  the  better  class  of  printing,  the  larger 
proportion  of  cotton,  and  the  superior  quality  of  the 
water  employed  in  the  dyeing  of  the  material,  have 
combined  to  make  the  American  textiles  more  to  the 
liking  of  the  native  buyers.  So  much  is  this  the  case, 
that  the  importers  who  formerly  took  British  goods 
almost  exclusively  now  send  home  American  patterns 
and  designs  to  be  produced  in  England,  even  the  United 
States  trade-marks  and  lettering  upon  the  piece-goods 
being  followed  as  closely  as  it  is  possible  to  do  without 
risking  an  action  for  infringement.  The  labels,  instead 
of  being  printed,  as  heretofore,  are  now  lithographed, 
and  are  likewise  colourable  imitations  of  the  American 
ones ;  and  it  is  sad  to  have  to  relate  that,  in  order  to 
keep  together  some  semblance  of  British  trade,  it  is 
apparently  necessary  to  pass  off  the  products  of  our 
looms  as  "  American." 

So  far  there  has  been  but  little  attack  made  upon 
British  bleached  cotton  goods,  the  proportion  of  which 
is  80  per  cent,  in  favour  of  our  country ;  but  German 
importers,  of  whom  there  are  an  ever-increasing  number 
in  Salvador,  are  now  seeking  to  increase  the  supply  of 
these  goods  from  the  Fatherland.  The  United  States, 


TEXTILE  MANUFACTURES  135 

as  yet,  have  done  little  in  this  direction.  In  yarns  we 
seem  steadily  to  be  losing  ground,  mainly,  as  I  under- 
stand, on  account  of  our  poor  colouring.  The  people 
of  these  sunny  lands  insist  upon  the  brightest  of  bright 
hues — the  most  vivid  scarlet  or  vermilion  for  Turkey- 
red  yarns ;  the  deepest  of  blues ;  the  prettiest  of 
greens.  The  British  products  are  lacking  in  these,  so 
much  so  that  many  of  the  Turkey-reds  spun  in  Scot- 
land are  sent  to  Germany  to  be  dyed  before  they  are 
exported  to  these  countries  as  "  British  "  yarns.  Our 
next  great  competitor  in  regard  to  textiles  is  France. 

British  trade  has  been  no  more  fortunate  in  regard 
to  its  machinery,  hardware,  or  iron  and  steel  trade 
connections  with  Salvador,  and  here  it  is  the  United 
States  that  is  met  with  as  a  powerful  and  resourceful 
rival  at  all  times.  The  great  combine  which  was 
formed  in  the  United  States  in  1909  to  supply  the 
wants  of  Latin- America  with  all  iron  and  steel  produc- 
tions, has  met  with  an  immense  success,  so  much  so 
that  even  its  organizers  have  expressed  astonishment. 
The  geographical  advantages  possessed  are  not  the 
only  ones.  The  United  States  Steel  Produce  Export 
Company  is  enabled  to  handle  orders  more  promptly 
and  much  more  cheaply  than  any  European  factory 
could  do,  but  with  these  commanding  points  in  its  favour 
the  Company  is  not  satisfied.  It  has  organized  a 
system  of  canvassing  either  directly  by  personal  appli- 
cation or  by  mail,  which  is  both  timely  and  effective. 
Immediately  it  is  known,  or  even  suspected,  that  any 
new  railway  or  other  construction  is  about  to  be 
entered  upon,  the  Company  despatches  an  agent  to 
see  the  promoters,  or,  in  the  absence  of  this,  forwards 
by  mail  a  complete  library  of  handbooks,  cost  esti- 
mates, attractive  illustrations,  drawings  and  code-lists, 


136    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

even  prepaying  a  cable  message  when  business  is  likely 
to  result.  The  terms  offered  are  often  such  as  no 
European  could  or  would  tender,  and,  even  if  it  were  a 
question  of  direct  competition,  the  Steel  Company 
would  probably  win-out ;  but  the  prices  which  it 
quotes  and  the  conditions  which  it  imposes  are  of  so 
tempting  a  nature  that  they  stand  alone. 

It  is  to  be  remembered  that  practically  the  whole  of 
the  transportation  arrangements  in  Central  America, 
Salvador  excepted,  are  in  the  hands  of  Americans, 
whose  carefully  arranged  Pan-American  Railway 
System  is  now  fast  approaching  practical  realization. 
When  completed,  it  will  be  possible  to  journey  from 
New  York  to  Panama  without  change  of  car,  and  what 
this  means  for  quick  and  cheap  freights  can  be  realized. 
In  all  probability  there  will  be  severe  shipping  com- 
petition to  meet  with,  however,  more  especially  on  the 
part  of  the  Tehuantepec  Railroad,  which  is  already 
carrying  an  enormous  traffic,  and  is  regarded  with 
envious  eyes  by  the  Panama  Railroad  Company.  With 
the  exception  of  the  Tehuantepec  route  and  the 
Salvador  Railway,  the  Americans  now  control  the 
transportation  arrangements  of  Central  America,  being 
thus  enabled  to  regulate  the  freight  charges  upon  all 
merchandise  entering  these  countries.  Already  several 
cases  of  unfair  discrimination  have  been  recorded,  such, 
for  instance,  as  charging  a  British  commercial  traveller 
in  Costa  Rica  a  sum  of  $75  (£15)  for  the  conveyance 
of  his  samples  between  the  Port  of  Limdn  and  the 
capital  of  San  Jose,  while  an  American  drummer  was 
actually  granted  a  rebate  of  50  per  cent,  off  the  ordinary 
rates,  his  expenses  amounting  to  little  more  than  $20 
(£4)  all  told.  In  both  cases  the  weight  of  the  samples 
was  the  same, 


CHAPTER  XI 

British  trade  declines — Suggested  remedy — Distributing  centres — Trading 
companies  and  branches — Unattractive  cheap  goods — Former  hold 
upon  Salvadorean  markets — Comparative  statistics  between  Great 
Britain,  Germany,  and  the  United  States — Woollen  and  cotton  goods 
— Absence  of  British  bottoms  from  Salvadorean  ports — Markets  open 
to  British  manufacturers — Agricultural  implements. 

WHILE  everyone  who  has  studied  the  question  of 
British  trade  abroad  is  practically  agreed  that  it  is  at 
present  suffering  from  more  than  the  average  number 
of  disadvantages,  few  have  any  real  remedy  to  suggest 
that  might  possibly  put  a  different  face  upon  matters. 
One  idea  which  has  been  suggested  to  me,  however, 
is  worthy  of  careful  attention.  This  is  to  establish 
throughout  the  Central  and  South  American  States 
a  number  of  retail  British  houses  which  shall  act  as 
agents  and  distributing  centres  for  our  home-made 
goods.  I  acknowledge  that  the  notion  is  not  a  new 
one,  since  the  enterprising  Germans,  who  are,  as  I 
have  shown,  our  keenest  competitors  in  this  part  of 
the  world,  have  long  conducted  such  retail  establish- 
ments, and  have  found  them  most  beneficial  in  the 
extension  of  their  business  with  the  Latin- American 
countries.  To  open  up  new  branches  without  the  aid 
of  some  such  method,  it  may  be  said  at  once,  is  almost, 
if  not  wholly,  impossible.  I  admit  that  there  are  diffi- 
culties which  will  have  to  be  encountered,  as  there  are 
in  all  enterprises  of  this  nature  ;  but  that  these  are  not 

137 


138    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

insuperable  the  Germans  have  themselves  very  clearly 
demonstrated. 

In  the  first  place,  the  establishment  of  these  retail 
establishments,  if  undertaken  at  all,  would  have  to  be 
upon  a  large  and  a  very  comprehensive  scale.  For 
this  reason  it  is  possible  that  few  British  manufac- 
turers would  have  the  pluck  to  enter  upon  the  project. 
The  result  of  such  timidity  is  that,  in  the  minor 
branches  of  trade  in  the  Latin -American  Republics, 
the  volume  of  which  is  continually  increasing  in  im- 
portance side  by  side  with  the  increase  in  the  demand 
for  the  small  luxuries  and  the  conveniences  of  life,  the 
representation  of  British  manufactures  is  becoming  an 
insignificant  factor. 

The  remedy — or  at  least  a  partial  one — for  this,  as 
already  indicated,  lies  in  the  formation  of  large  trading 
companies,  which  would  combine  a  retail  and  whole- 
sale business  in  all  branches  of  imported  goods,  with 
the  purchase  of  local  produce  for  export.  Apart  from 
the  advantages  which  such  a  company  would  enjoy, 
due  to  the  magnitude  of  its  operations  over  ordinary 
importers,  its  retail  department  would  afford  a  prac- 
tical means  of  advertising  and  placing  upon  sale  all 
kinds  of  novelties,  which  naturally  would  serve  to 
continually  widen  the  scope  of  its  operations.  It 
would  likewise  be  in  a  position,  better  than  that  of 
any  private  firm,  to  receive  goods  for  sale  upon  com- 
mission ;  and  by  exporting  produce  it  would  be  able 
to  effect  considerable  economies  in  its  remittances 
(especially  in  such  countries  as  Salvador  and  Guate- 
mala, where  the  exchange  is  often  altering),  while  at 
the  same  time  it  could  afford  to  pay  better  prices 
than  its  competitors.  The  question  is  already  really 
answered  by  the  success  of  the  co-operative  stores 


RETAIL  STORES  139 

established  in  England,  and  it  is  upon  some  such 
basis  as  this  that  the  scheme  for  the  Latin- American 
Republics  is  laid.  It  must  be  remembered  that  in  all 
of  these  countries  the  difference  between  the  whole- 
sale and  the  retail  prices  is  enormous,  and  that  the 
dealers'  profits  are  exceedingly  high.  It  is  an  idea 
which  Mr.  Lionel  Garden,  who  is,  perhaps,  one  of  our 
greatest  Pro -Consuls,  and  particularly  gifted  with 
common  sense,  has  frequently  urged  in  his  reports  to 
the  Home  Government,  and  perhaps  for  this  very 
reason  it  has  never  been  adopted.  It  is  one  which  I 
cordially  commend  to  the  careful  consideration  of  my 
readers. 

Yet  another  point  to  which  the  attention  of  British 
manufacturers  may  be  drawn  is  the  unattractive 
manner  in  which  the  cheaper  classes  of  goods  are 
turned  out.  I  have  in  previous  publications  shown 
how  trade  with  the  Latin- American  countries  is  injured 
by  the  extremely  commonplace  and  often  ugly  cover- 
ings and  wrappings  used  upon  boxes  or  bindings. 
The  question  is,  "  Why  should  an  article,  because  it  is 
perhaps  cheap,  be  made  particularly  ugly  ?"  The  long- 
established  custom  among  our  manufacturers  of  using 
the  commonest  and  crudest  of  coverings  is  matched 
by  their  fondness  for  finishing  off  their  cheaper  articles 
in  the  dullest  and  least  attractive  of  colours  or  casings. 
This  is  in  striking  contrast  to  both  American  and 
German  manufacturers,  whose  artistic  taste  is  shown 
in  the  manner  in  which  their  goods  —  often  mere 
rubbish  though  they  be — are  packed,  and  with  very 
excellent  results,  so  far  as  the  export  trade  is  con- 
cerned. In  an  age  like  ours,  when  lithography  of 
every  description  is  so  cheap  and  taste  in  design  so 
improved,  it  seems  wholly  absurd  that  good  orders 


140    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

should  be  continually  lost  on  account  of  their  non- 
adoption. 

I  have  heard  of  another  idea  which  I  may  pass  on  to 
manufacturers  of  small  articles  enjoying  a  large  sale  in 
these  countries,  and  this  is  to  procure,  through  any- 
one living  in  the  country,  photographs  of  the  rulers 
— the  Presidents  and  Vice-Presidents — and  use  them 
lavishly  upon  their  labels  and  box-covers  whenever 
possible.  The  people  are  extremely  fond  of  collecting 
these  cheap  oleographs  and  pasting  them  upon  their 
walls  and  windows ;  and  in  all  parts  of  South  and 
Central  America  may  be  seen  thousands  of  the  pictures 
of  King  Edward  and  Queen  Alexandra,  of  the  Kaiser, 
and  even  of  famous  actresses.  How  much  more  readily 
would  the  features  of  a  familiar  ruler  or  a  popular 
Minister  help  the  sale  of  a  cheap  material  or  a  low- 
priced  article  of  any  kind  ?  The  desire  to  secure 
something  for  nothing — or  as  an  extra  "  thrown  in  "- 
is  as  predominant  in  Latin-America  as  elsewhere  in 
the  world,  and  must  be  pandered  to. 

Salvador  is  one  of  the  many  Latin- American  States 
whose  great  richness  and  prosperity  repose  in  their 
immediate  future.  In  area  it  is  one  of  the  smallest  of 
the  Central  American  Republics,  but  it  is  in  no  whit 
less  important  from  a  prospective  development  point 
of  view.  Its  superficial  area  is  but  7,225  miles,  but 
its  population  is  considerably  over  1,000,000,  which 
gives  it  an  average  to  the  square  mile  much  in  excess 
of  either  Guatemala,  Costa  Rica,  or  Nicaragua.  It  is, 
moreover,  an  easier  country  to  deal  with,  physically 
considered,  since  it  is  in  fully  three  parts  of  its  area 
quite  amenable  to  cultivation.  It  is  remarkably  well- 
watered,  it  is  richly  endowed  writh  mineral  deposits, 
and  its  people  are  a  quiet,  peaceful,  and  industrious 


THE  VANISHING  BRITON  HI 

race,  well-disposed  towards  foreigners,  and  with  as 
much  distaste  nowadays  for  revolutions  and  inter- 
necine disturbances  as  their  immediate  neighbours 
would  appear  to  display  for  similar  diversions. 

In  a  word,  Salvador  seems  to  offer  at  the  present 
time  an  excellent  field  for  the  investment  of  both 
capital  and  enterprise.  It  is  quite  clear  that  the 
favourable  position  existing  is  also  appreciated,  since 
the  country  is,  and  has  for  some  time  past  been,  full 
of  the  "  commercial  ambassadors  " — in  other  words,  of 
commercial  travellers — representing  the  manufacturing 
trade  of  the  United  States  and  of  many  European 
houses,  mainly  German. 

While  several  British  firms  still  maintain  their  con- 
nection with  the  Republic,  there  are  to  be  found  barely 
half  a  dozen  British  houses  throughout  the  length  and 
breadth  of  the  country.  This  is  all  the  more  sur- 
prising since  the  names — and  nothing  but  the  names — 
of  many  one-time  influential  British  firms  are  to  be 
seen  on  the  door-posts  and  signs  of  the  shops.  The 
old-established  emporiums  in  San  Salvador,  in  Son- 
sonate — the  next  most  important  trading  centre — in 
Ahuachapan,  in  Santa  Ana,  in  Chalatenango,  and  in 
Sensuntepeque,  all  tell  that  formerly  they  imported 
their  goods  through  English  establishments  almost 
exclusively,  and  that  British  travellers  called  upon 
them  at  regular  intervals  for  their  orders.  To-day, 
the  greater  part  of  the  orders,  with  some  notable 
exceptions,  are  taken  by  German  and  American 
travellers,  and  a  British  " drummer"  is  about  as  rare 
an  object  as  the  fabulous  Dodo.  "  We  should  be  glad 
enough  to  see  them,"  added  one  of  my  informants  ; 
"  but  they  seem  to  have  forgotten  that  such  a  place 
as  Salvador  exists," 


SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

The  President  of  the  Republic,  General  Fernando 
Figueroa,  who  retired  last  November  from  office,  a 
very  intelligent  and  charming  man,  in  conversation 
with  me,  dwelt  in  the  same  strain  concerning  the 
disappearance  of  the  Britisher  as  a  trading  factor  from 
the  Republic  of  Salvador.  He  frankly  expressed  both 
his  regret  and  his  surprise  that  the  desirable  com- 
merce of  this  wealthy  and  promising  Central  American 
State  should  have  been  practically  abandoned  by  the 
shrewd  and  enterprising  Northerners,  when  they  had  at 
one  time  so  firm  a  hold  upon  its  commercial  relations. 

The  Germans,  who  have  to  all  intents  and  purposes 
taken  possession  of  the  connections,  but  not  of  the 
affections,  of  the  Salvadoreans,  which  formerly  were 
the  almost  exclusive  holdings  of  the  British,  are  now 
to  be  found  everywhere.     They  not  alone  year  by  year 
further  extend   the  tentacles  of  their   trade   by  all 
usual  means  and  methods,  but  they  make  a  point  of 
coming  out  to  reside  for  a  number  of  years  ;  and  this 
is  one  of  their  strongest  holds  upon  the  country.    The 
Germans  are  prepared  to  endure  any  personal  sacrifice 
in  the  way  of  comforts  or  conveniences  to  make  and 
maintain   profitable    commercial    relations   with    the 
people  of  the  countries  among  which  they  elect  to 
trade.     In  the  majority  of  cases  they  open  branch- 
houses  in  the  chief  cities  of  these  countries,  sending 
either  one  of  their  partners,  or,  failing  him,  one  of  his 
junior  relations,  to  live  in  the  State  and  personally 
conduct  the  business  of  the  house  and  closely  study 
the  conditions  of  the  country.     Dozens  of  bright,  in- 
telligent, and   enthusiastic   young  Germans  are  met 
with,  who  have  been,  perhaps,  but  a  few  years  away 
from  school  or  college,  serving  in  their  shirt-sleeves, 


THE  INVADING  GERMAN  143 

without  a  blush  or  sense  of  humiliation,  behind  the 
counters  at  the  small  country  stores,  opening  their 
establishments  at  6  a.m.,  and  closing  them  at  8  or 
9  p.m.,  Sundays  and  weekdays  alike. 

T  have  asked  many  of  these  young  fellows  how 
many  years  they  have  been  in  the  country,  and  how 
many  more  they  mean  to  remain.  Some  have  been 
quite  new  arrivals  ;  others  have  been,  perhaps,  serving 
in  Mexico,  Costa  Rica,  Guatemala,  and  other  of  the 
Latin-American  States  ;  but  none  of  them,  apparently, 
think  of  going  home,  even  upon  a  temporary  visit,  in 
less  than  ten  years,  and  to  all  appearances  they  are 
perfectly  happy  to  be  where  they  are,  not  even  saving 
money,  but  building  up  a  trade  connection  for  them- 
selves or  for  their  employers,  as  already  indicated — 
in  most  cases  their  relations — which  may  one  day 
prove  valuable. 

I  may  say  that,  although  these  same  young  Germans 
live  quite  like  the  people  of  the  country,  eating  the 
same  food,  occupying  the  same  kind  of  houses,  rising 
and  retiring  at  the  same  primitive  hours,  and  not 
infrequently  even  marrying  into  their  families,  they 
maintain  all  the  cleanliness  of  their  own  lives  and 
habits,  and  are  always  as  orderly  and  as  well-conducted 
in  all  relations  of  life  as  any  self-respecting  young 
man  need  be. 

While  it  is  true  that  the  Germans  do  not  succeed, 
any  more  than  North  Americans,  in  ever  endearing 
themselves  to  the  inhabitants  of  these  countries  of  the 
South,  they  do  most  assuredly  earn  the  respect  and 
the  esteem  of  their  neighbours,  and  succeed  in  living 
for  many  years  in  their  countries,  surrounded,  as  is 
found  the  case,  by  occasional  revolution  and  internecine 


144     SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

troubles,  without  in  any  way  becoming  involved  in  the 
vortex. 

This  cannot  be  truthfully  said  of  the  average 
American,  who  comes  down  either  upon  a  business  or 
a  pleasure  trip  ;  the  political  affairs  and  the  border 
complications  seem  to  have  a  peculiar  and  dangerous 
fascination  for  him,  and,  as  in  the  case  of  the  cele- 
brated "  Little  Jack  Horner "  of  nursery  memories, 
he  must  have  a  finger  in  the  pie.  As  often  as  not,  the 
"plum"  which  he  at  length  succeeds  in  pulling  out 
proves  to  be  a  fairly  indigestible  one,  and  he  is  com- 
pelled to  drop  it  and  make  a  bolt  from  the  kitchen 
rather  precipitately,  too. 

It  would  appear,  from  the  statistics  which  are  given 
in  a  previous  chapter  (see  p.  106),  that  Great  Britain 
in  1909  led  in  the  net  value  of  the  country's  foreign 
imports.  The  figures,  however,  must  not  be  read  in 
the  light  of  competition  only,  but  in  the  much  more 
disturbing  aspect  of  the  closeness  of  their  totals  to 
the  completion  attained  by  the  most  serious  rivals  to 
the  United  Kingdom — namely,  the  United  States  and 
Germany.  The  returns  for  1910  prove  this. 

Comparison  has  been  made  with  the  figures  of  1904 
(which  were  selected  for  the  special  purpose  referred 
to),  and  I  now  desire  my  readers  to  glance  at  some  of 
more  recent  date. 

For  the  whole  of  the  Republic  the  foreign  importa- 
tion of  merchandise  for  1908  was  as  follows : 
Packages  =  267,791  ;  kilogrammes  =  18,830,121. 
Value  :  $4,240,561.21.  Out  of  all  the  different 
countries  concerned,  we  are  interested  for  the  moment 
in  three  only — namely,  Great  Britain,  Germany,  and 
the  United  States  of  America,  and  these  returns  stand 
as  follows : 


FOREIGN  IMPORTATION  OF  MERCHANDISE   145 


Packages. 

Kilos  Weight. 

Value. 

Great  Britain 
Germany        
United  States 

42,613 
29,605 
146,857 

3,740,138 
2,542,732 
9,765,056 

$ 
1,539,046 
442,860 
1,287,452 

Looking  into  the  details  of  the  returns,  it  seems 
that  British  textile  and  cotton  manufactures  have 
been  the  most  vigorously  attacked  by  both  the 
German  and  the  American  competing  houses.  The 
shares  respectively  for  1909  were  as  follow  : 


Great  Britain 
United  States 
Germany 


Total  Value. 

$957,172.07 

451,692.72 

57,376.64 


In  woollen  and  cotton  textile  goods  there  is  not 
any  further  improvement  in  the  trade  of  the  United 
States,  the  1910  figures  being  $300,075  ;  but  those 
of  Germany  stand  at  $71,080,  as  against  $763,171 
for  Great  Britain.  From  this  it  will  be  observed 
that  in  this  respect  they  "who  were  last  may  yet 
become  first,"  a  very  significant  fulfilment  of  the 
Biblical  prognostication  so  far  as  Great  Britain  is 
concerned.  The  chief  articles  of  export  of  "other 
countries"  to  Salvador  are  iron  and  hardware, 
$73,447.96  ;  sacks  for  coffee,  $92,937.38  ;  and  various 
articles,  $132,660.04.  Germany  is  represented  by  an 
immense  number  of  different  articles,  but  none  of 
them  in  net  value  touch  very  high  figures.  The  most 
important  is  hardware,  which  is  represented  by  a 
value  of  $69,092.25,  while  linen  goods  stand  at 
$57,376.64,  as  against  the  British  total  of  $957,172.07. 

A  somewhat  different  kind  of  trade  is  done  in  this 
class  of  goods  to  that  most  general,  for  instance,  in 
Guatemala.  There  the  natives  demand  a  cheaper 

10 


146    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

and  more  flimsy  kind  of  material.  In  Salvador  they 
would  appear  to  prefer  a  somewhat  higher  class  of  goods 
and  of  a  rather  more  sober  pattern.  The  Germans  are 
catering  actively  for  this  market,  and  although,  as 
will  be  observed,  they  have  a  very  long  headway 
to  make  up  before  they  approach  to  within  the  region 
attained  by  either  the  British  or  the  American  figures, 
the  persistency  with  which  the  Teutons  are  pursuing 
these  Latin- American  markets  makes  their  competition 
a  serious  factor  for  the  future  (see  p.  149). 

In  regard  to  exports  from  the  port  of  Acajutla,  a 
few  words  will  suffice  to  explain  the  situation.  France 
stands  first  as  the  recipient  of  the  Republic's  products 
from  this  particular  port.  The  figures  for  the  first 
half  of  the  year  (1909)  show  that  France  took  coffee 
to  the  value  of  $749,946,  Germany  came  next  with 
$667,304,  while  the  United  States  stood  third  with 
$506,064.  Great  Britain  did  not  figure  at  all  in  the 
trade  of  Acajutla ;  but  from  the  port  of  La  Libertad 
the  United  Kingdom  took  goods  to  the  value  of 
$106,043  in  coffee,  against  $127,740  by  Germany, 
$311,093  by  France,  and  $124,700  by  the  United 
States. 

$874,958.32  represents  the  total  value  of  the  coffee 
shipped  from  the  port  of  La  Libertad  for  the  six 
months  of  that  year.  This  business  with  England 
must  have  been  carried  on  in  foreign  bottoms,  for,  as 
mentioned  elsewhere,  a  British  vessel  had  not  been 
seen  in  the  port  of  La  Libertad  for  some  years,  a 
fact  vouched  for  by  the  Comandante  of  the  Port, 
who  keeps  the  records  of  all  ships  arriving  and 
departing.  The  values,  it  is  as  well  to  mention,  are 
given  in  gold  dollars,  the  equivalent  in  Salvadorean 
dollars  being  $2,186,495.80.  In  regard  to  the 


AGRICULTURAL  IMPLEMENTS  147 

Republic's  trade  generally,  the  countries  with  which 
it  does  its  export  business  stand  in  the  following 
order  of  importance  :  France,  Germany,  United  States, 
Italy,  Austria,  Great  Britain,  Spain,  and  "other 
countries." 

Reference  may  be  made  to  the  trade  done  in  the 
article  known  as  balsam,  which  is  a  product  peculiar 
to  Salvador.  Hamburg  is  the  principal  market  for  the 
article,  and  its  quotations  fix  the  price  for  the  world. 
Within  the  last  two  years  the  price  has  fluctuated 
from  12  to  22  marks  per  kilogramme — say  $2.86  to 
$5.24  per  2.2  pounds.  The  price  at  the  beginning  of 
1909  was  14  marks — say,  $3.33  per  kilogramme.  The 
method  of  obtaining  the  balsam  is  very  curious, 
and  is  described  at  some  length  in  Chapter  VII. 

Manufacturers  of  agricultural  implements  and 
machinery  for  the  Latin-American  markets  should 
remember  that  it  is  unnecessary  and  undesirable  to 
make  the  articles  in  such  a  manner  as  to  last  for  ever. 
While  durability  and  substantiality  are  no  doubt 
excellent  features  of  machinery  of  all  kinds,  and  in 
connection  with  British-made  goods  have  always  been 
much  depended  upon,  it  is  quite  possible  to  carry  the 
virtue  too  far.  It  must  be  borne  in  mind  that  out 
"in  the  West"  the  same  ideas  do  not  prevail  as  at 
home,  and  in  any  case  these  countries  are  still  in  the 
experimental  stage,  when  new  industries  are  continu- 
ally superseding  the  old.  The  Americans  and  the 
Germans  both  understand  this,  and  consequently  they 
are  ousting  the  British-made  heavier  goods  from  the 
market. 

What  are  required  are  light  ploughs,  watering-carts, 
hay-rakes,  seed-sowers,  and  similar  machines,  but  of 
a  light  yet  strong  character.  The  question  of  freight 


148     SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

comes  in  very  seriously,  since  not  only  is  the  steam- 
ship charge  to  be  considered,  but  the  frequently  long 
overland  journey  upon  mule-back.  By  the  time  that 
the  implement  or  machine  has  reached  its  destination, 
it  frequently  costs  double  the  invoice  price.  All  easily 
detachable  and  duplicated-part  machines  are  very 
much  more  in  demand  than  other  kinds,  and  they  are 
but  seldom  found  in  Central  America  of  British  manu- 
facture. But  there  is  absolutely  no  reason  why  they 
should  not  be  made,  and  as  freely  sold,  as  the  American 
classes,  which  are  to  be  seen  displayed — painted  in  all 
the  gaudy  colours  of  the  rainbow — in  practically  every 
hardware  store  in  La  tin- America.  No  small  part  of 
the  dealers'  profits,  either,  is  derived  from  supplying 
duplicate  parts,  due  to  losses  and  breakages.  The 
purchasers  seldom,  if  ever,  complain  of  breakdowns, 
and  they  prefer  discarding  their  latest  purchase  for  a 
new,  and  maybe  an  untried,  invention,  which  is 
advertised  to  do  all  the  wonderful  things  which  the 
late  implement  did,  in  addition  to  numerous  others 
which  it  could  not  do. 

Small  pamphlets,  printed  in  Spanish,  showing,  with 
the  aid  of  drawings,  how  the  machine  or  implement  may 
be  detached,  cleaned,  repaired,  and  again  put  together, 
are  also  to  be  recommended.  I  would  even  suggest 
sending  out  with  each  article  a  brightly  -  coloured 
illustration  of  the  machine  in  operation,  since  pur- 
chasers are  very  fond  of  hanging  such  upon  their  walls  ; 
and  in  the  absence  of  any  other  picture  I  have  often 
seen  the  flaring  advertisement  of  some  totally  different 
machine,  such  as  a  plough  or  a  reaper,  occupying  a 
conspicuous  position  upon  the  house-walls  of  a  farmer's 
establishment.  If  he  were  sufficiently  fortunate  to 
possess  an  actual  illustration  of  his  own  particular 
machine,  I  think  that  he  would  gladly  endow  it  with  a 


STATISTICS  FOR  1910 


149 


special  frame,  and  thus  advertise  it  freely  for  the 
benefit  of  the  manufacturer.  It  is,  therefore,  well 
worth  while  for  dealers  to  give  such  matters  their 
attention.  The  initial  cost  is  very  small,  while  the 
corresponding  advantages  are  undoubtedly  great.  At 
least  our  American  and  German  competitors  think  so, 
and  have  the  courage  of  their  opinions. 

The  present  chapter  could  hardly  be  more  usefully 
completed  than  by  adding  the  latest  trading  returns 
to  hand  from  the  Republic — up  to  July,  1911 — which 
provide  the  figures  for  the  whole  of  the  year  1910. 
These  show  that  what  has  been  so  long  threatened  has 
actually  occurred  —  Great  Britain  has  lost  to  the 
United  States  its  first  place  upon  the  Imports  List ; 
while  upon  the  Exports  List,  it  stands  fifth.  Here  let 
the  statistics  speak  for  themselves  : 


1908. 

1909. 

1910. 

Imports  : 

$ 

$ 

• 

United  States      ... 

1,287,452 

1,344,316 

1,346,598 

Great  Britain 

1,539,047 

1,438,614 

1,165,993 

Great  Britain... 

+  251,595 

+  74,298 

-180,605    j 

Exports  : 
United  States 

$ 
2,046,398 

I 

1,838,302 

2,280,156 

+  441,854 

Germany  ... 

1,038,305 

955,888 

1,584,627 

+  428,739 

France       

1,417,428 

1,146,316 

1,097,118 

-    49,198 

Italy          

374,434 

400,163 

609,674 

+  209,511 

Great  Britain 

449,167 

440,359 

480,737 

+   40,278 

Thus,  from  having  a  surplus  of  trade  in  Salvador 
over  all  other  countries  in  1909  to  the  value  of  $74,298 
(as  against  $251,595  in  1908),  we  show  a  loss  of 
$180,605  in  1910.  While  the  United  States,  Ger- 
many, and  Italy  all  showed  an  increase  in  their 
purchases  from  Salvador  of  considerable  amounts, 
Great  Britain  records  the  contemptible  advance  of 
$40,278  !  We  may  well  echo  Syrus's  maxim  :  "  Heu, 
quam  difficilis  glorice  custodia  est  /" 


CHAPTER  XII 

British  fire  apparatus — Story  of  a  British  installation — Coffee  and  sugar 
machinery — Cane-mills — Fawcett,  Preston  and  Co.'s  installations — 
High  reputation  enjoyed  by  British  firms — United  States  coffee 
equipment— German  competition — Methods  of  German  commercial 
travellers — Openings  for  British  trade — Effect  of  Panama  Canal — A 
libel  upon  Salvador  manufacturers— Salvador  Chamber  of  Commerce. 

THERE  are,  on  the  other  hand,  certain  classes  of 
machinery  and  appliances  of  British  manufacture 
which  can  be  met  with  not  only  in  practically  every 
part  of  the  world,  but  which  no  amount  of  foreign 
competition  would  seem  to  seriously  affect.  Among 
these  specialized  manufactures  may  be  included,  coffee 
and  sugar  machinery  and  fire-engines.  The  latter 
stand,  indeed,  quite  alone  as  effective  and  universally 
known  features  of  British  construction,  and  I  do  not  in 
any  way  exaggerate  when  I  state  that  in  no  part  of 
the  world  to  which  I  have  been — and  that  is  equiva- 
lent to  saying  "  everywhere  upon  the  face  of  the 
habitable  globe "-  —have  I  failed  to  see  some  kind  of 
fire-extinguishing  apparatus,  old  or  new,  of  British 
manufacture.  In  the  Central  American  States  the 
reputation  of  such  appliances  stands  very  high,  as  was 
exemplified  at  the  time  of  one  of  the  several  serious 
conflagrations  which  have  afflicted  San  Salvador,  and 
which  occurred  some  four  years  ago,  when  a  great 
portion  of  the  capital  city  was  for  a  time  in  jeopardy 
of  destruction.  One  of  the  principal  churches  was 

150 


BRITISH  FIRE-ENGINES  151 

actually  destroyed,  and  this  so  affected  the  people 
that  the  Government  determined  to  invest  in  fire- 
engines  and  necessary  appliances. 

As  soon  as  this  determination  became  known,  the 
officials  were  inundated  with  the  catalogues  of  manu- 
facturers from  Germany,  France,  the  United  States, 
and  other  countries.  An  emissary  from  America  even 
came  down  personally  from  the  States  to  canvass  for 
the  order ;  but  the  reputation  of  the  British  fire- 
apparatus  was  strong  and  its  general  effectiveness  was 
generally  recognized,  so  that  the  Government  did  not 
hesitate  in  its  decision  to  follow  Mr.  Mark  J.  Kelly's 
advice  to  award  the  order  to  a  Greenwich  firm.  A 
larger  type  of  the  Merry  weather  steam-engine,  with  a 
very  complete  outfit  for  the  firemen,  has  since  been 
added,  through  the  instrumentality  of  the  same 
gentleman. 

Further  proof  of  the  utility  of  the  English  engines 
was  afforded  later  on,  when  yet  another  serious  and 
disastrous  fire  occurred  in  San  Salvador,  the  work, 
it  is  believed,  of  an  incendiary,  with  the  result  that 
an  entire  block  of  fine  buildings,  including  the  National 
Theatre,  was  burned  to  the  ground.  It  is  admitted 
by  everyone  that  but  for  the  services  rendered  by  the 
fire-engines,  and  not  a  little  also  by  the  heroic  work 
of  the  local  brigade,  the  greater  portion  of  the  city,  in 
all  probability,  would  have  been  destroyed.  It  is  the 
intention  of  the  authorities,  I  understand,  to  further 
increase  the  effectiveness  of  the  service  by  ordering 
more  hose  and  additional  salvage  appliances. 

In  conversation  with  the  former  President  of  the 
Eepublic,  General  Fernando  Figueroa,  upon  one 
occasion,  he  paid  an  eloquent  tribute  to  the  excellence 
of  British  machinery  of  all  kinds.  He  has  had,  it 


152    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

may  be  mentioned,  some  experience  of  the  manufac- 
tures of  other  countries  as  well  as  of  our  own.  He 
mentioned  to  me  the  fact  that  he  recollected  at  one 
time  that  many  British  manufactures,  not  only  of 
machinery,  were  to  be  met  with  largely  in  Salvador, 
and  that  the  names  of  several  of  the  large  importing 
firms  and  store-keepers  in  many  of  the  other  cities  of 
the  State  were  British.  To-day  there  are  but  five  or 
six  English  houses  to  be  found  in  Salvador.  On  the 
other  hand,  as  previously  pointed  out,  one  meets  with 
many  German  names,  these  ubiquitous  and  enterprising 
trade  rivals  having  firmly  established  themselves  in 
the  Kepublic,  as  they  have  also  succeeded  in  doing 
in  Guatemala  and  Costa  Rica. 

In  regard  to  coffee  and  sugar  machinery,  of  which 
mention  has  already  been  made,  this  trade  is  split  up 
between  the  two  houses  of  John  Gordon  and  Co.,  of 
London,  and  Marcus  Mason  and  Co.,  of  New  York. 
Both  make  excellent  apparatus  for  the  purpose  of 
treating  the  berry  and  cane,  the  Germans  in  this 
particular  direction  finding  but  very  little  favour  even 
among  their  own  people.  I  visited  several  of  the 
large  fincas  or  estates,  where  both  coffee  and  sugar 
are  treated,  and  in  all  such  instances  the  properties 
were  either  owned  or  being  managed  by  Germans. 
In  all  cases  the  machinery  was  either  British  or 
American,  and  in  a  number  of  instances  both  were 
freely  employed. 

Upon  inquiry,  I  was  informed  that  the  sugar 
machinery  turned  out  by  German  manufacturers  in 
the  majority  of  cases  is  too  complicated  and  delicate 
for  practical  purposes,  and  that  it  needs  an  expert 
mechanician — a  decidedly  rara  avis  in  this  part  of 
the  world — to  understand  the  apparatus  or  to  carry 


BRITISH  SUGAR  MACHINERY  153 

out  the  necessary  repairs  when  things  go  wrong.  In 
all  of  the  factories  visited  by  me  the  equipment,  with 
the  exception  of  the  boilers  and  some  of  the  vertical 
donkey-engines  for  feeding  them,  came  either  from 
Great  Britain  or  the  United  States  of  America. 

One  excellent  testimonial  to  the  superiority  of 
British  machinery  was  afforded  at  the  Laguna  Finca, 
belonging  to  Herr  FeMor  Deininger,  who,  as  may  be 
assumed  from  his  name,  is  a  German  proprietor.  Here 
I  found  a  complete  sugar- manufacturing  plant,  con 
sisting  of  cane-mill,  liquor  pumps  and  tanks,  defecators, 
juice-heaters,  clarifiers  and  evaporators,  steam  elimin- 
ators, filters,  and,  indeed,  everything  but  the  centri- 
fugals, which  alone  were  of  German  construction,  had 
been  provided  by  the  Liverpool  firm  of  Messrs.  Fawcett, 
Preston  and  Co.,  Limited,  of  the  Phoenix  Foundry. 
The  date  upon  this  installation  is  "  1867  ";  and  Herr 
Deininger,  the  present  owner  of  the  factory,  who 
acquired  it  from  his  uncle,  Herr  Bogen,  some  twenty 
years  ago,  declares  that  it  is  quite  unnecessary  to 
replace  the  installation,  "as  it  is  still  working  most 
satisfactorily."  Of  this  I,  indeed,  assured  myself  by 
personal  observation.  I  venture  to  believe  that  this 
is  an  altogether  unique  instance  of  a  sugar- machinery 
installation,  erected  over  forty-three  years  ago,  and 
which  has  been  in  constant  operation  during  that 
time,  day  by  day,  Sundays  included,  being  found  in  a 
sufficiently  sound  and  workable  condition  as  to  need 
nothing  more  serious  than  an  occasional  replacement 
of  a  small  part  or  a  temporary  stoppage  for  over- 
hauling. 

In  Salvador  there  are  several  cane-mills  of  quite 
recent  construction  throughout,  and  in  most  instances 
these  are  the  manufactures  of  Messrs.  Fawcett, 


154    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

Preston  and  Co.,  Limited,  who,  it  would  appear,  have 
erected  similar  installations  in  many  other  parts  of 
the  world,  since  I  have  come  across  them  in  Southern 
Brazil,  Cuba,  India,  and  the  Argentine.  The  cattle- 
mills,  which  are  peculiarly  adapted  for  this  country, 
where  oxen  are  used  everywhere  and  for  all  purposes 
of  road-hauling,  are  made  with  three  horizontal  rolls, 
secured  upon  strong  gudgeons,  running  in  adjustable 
gun-metal  bearings,  supported  and  held  in  place  by 
two  massive  head-stocks  bolted  to  a  strong  bedplate. 
This  latter  extends  under  the  rolls  from  one  side  of 
the  mill  to  the  other,  serving  as  a  juice-pan  attached 
to  it.  There  is  also  fitted  an  upright  shaft,  turning 
in  a  footstep  secured  to  the  mill  bedplate,  and  in  a 
pedestal  bolted  to  an  entablature,  supported  by  four 
pillars,  which  form  part  of  the  head- stocks.  To  this 
upright  shaft  is  keyed  a  bevel- wheel,  which  gears  into 
another  keyed  upon  the  toproll  gudgeon.  In  addition 
to  the  bevel-wheel,  the  shaft  is  provided  with  iron- 
work for  carrying  wooden  steps  for  the  hitching  of 
oxen,  horses,  or  mules. 

Of  recent  years  Messrs.  Fawcett,  Preston  and  Co., 
Limited,  have  introduced  an  improved  type  of  Rousse- 
lot  cane-mill,  by  which  the  returner-bar  and  knife 
are  reduced  to  the  smallest  dimensions  by  a  special 
patented  arrangement  of  bringing  the  side-rolls  as 
close  together  as  the  top  cap-bolts  will  admit.  These 
latter  are  inclined  vertically  to  one  another,  and  the 
effect  of  this  arrangement  is  to  reduce  the  width  of 
the  knife,  and  consequently  the  friction  of  the  cane 
passing  over  it,  and  also  economizing  the  power  and 
consumption  of  fuel  necessary  to  drive  the  mill.  The 
special  feature  of  the  Rousselot  patent  is  to  be  found 
in  this  improvement— that  is  to  say,  that  the  strain  is 


SUGAR  MACHINERY  IMPROVEMENTS         155 

taken  off  the  cast-iron  head-stock  by  through  bolts, 
which  secure  against  the  breakage  of  the  head-stocks. 
Greater  ease  is  also  found  both  in  the  erection  and 
the  taking  down  of  the  mill.  These  rolls  are  made  of 
a  special  mixture  of  cast-iron,  selected  as  the  best  to 
withstand  the  wear  and  tear  to  which  they  are  neces- 
sarily subjected.  The  gudgeons  are  of  the  best 
hammered  scrap-iron,  and  are  forced  into  the  rolls  by 
means  of  hydraulic  pressure,  while,  in  addition,  the 
rolls  are  keyed  on  to  the  gudgeons.  All  the  head- 
stocks,  mill-bottom,  and  crown,  are  of  cast-iron. 

Yet  another  improvement  which  this  firm  have 
introduced  into  their  sugar  machinery  is  in  connection 
with  the  juice-heaters.  These  now  consist  of  three 
cylindrical  heaters  of  a  compound  type,  with  Chapman's 
patent  steam  separator,  and  which  are  fixed  horizontally 
side  by  side,  being  so  connected  that  while  any  one  of 
the  three  is  out  of  use  for  cleaning  or  repair,  either  of 
the  other  two  can  be  worked  as  a  high-pressure  or 
finishing  heater,  and  the  other  as  a  low-pressure 
heater,  thus  economizing  considerable  fuel.  The  steam 
separator  worked  in  connection  with  these  heaters 
economizes  about  8  per  cent,  of  the  steam  required  in 
the  multiple  effect  apparatus  for  evaporating  the  cane 
juice,  since  by  this  arrangement  the  steam  that  would 
otherwise  flash  off  from  the  superheated  juice  into  the 
atmosphere  and  be  lost  is  collected  and  conveyed  to 
the  heating  drums  of  the  multiple  effect,  and  so 
utilized  for  the  evaporation  of  a  corresponding  amount 
of  water  from  the  juice.  Improvements  are  also  to  be 
observed  in  connection  with  the  subsiding  defecators, 
the  steam  eliminators,  bag-filters,  the  apparatus  known 
as  the  "Coffey"  still. 

Reference  has  been  made  above  to  the  vogue  which 


156    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

British-made  coffee  machinery,  and  especially  that  of 
Messrs.  John  Gordon  and  Co.,  of  London,  has  had  in 
the  Latin- American  States.  So  far  as  Salvador  is  con- 
cerned, I  understand  that  this  class  of  product  stands 
in  serious  danger  of  being  ousted  from  the  market  by 
American  competition.  While  it  is  generally  admitted 
that  none  better  than  British  machinery  for  coffee, 
rice  and  cocoa  can  be  obtained,  the  very  success  of 
these  manufactures  seems  to  an  extent  to  have  resulted 
in  a  slackness  to  obtain  further  orders,  and  the  field, 
thus  neglected,  and  always  most  carefully  watched,  is 
being  occupied  by  the  Americans.  I  am  informed,  for 
instance,  that  to-day  fully  65  per  cent,  of  the  coffee 
machinery  to  be  found  in  Salvador  is  of  American 
make,  and  that  fresh  orders  are  being  despatched 
frequently  for  further  supplies.  I  also  learn  that  no 
British  traveller  in  this  class  of  machinery  has  been 
seen  in  Salvador  for  fully  five  or  six  years,  while,  on 
the  other  hand,  the  largest  of  the  United  States  manu- 
facturers has  an  agent,  in  this  case  a  young  German 
speaking  Spanish  fluently  and  possessing  a  very 
pleasant  manner,  who  is  continually  travelling  up  and 
down  the  country,  visiting  the  different  fincas  at 
which,  apparently,  he  is  always  welcome,  submitting 
drawings,  plans,  and  estimates  for  improvements  and 
new  installations. 

Moreover,  this  young  man  is  an  expert  mechanic,  and 
most  skilful  in  effecting  repairs  and  alterations  to 
machinery  and  plant  installations.  It  is  not  at  all 
difficult  to  understand  how  such  an  individual  makes 
headway  with  the  kind-hearted  and  hospitable  Salva- 
dorean estate  owners,  and  how  he  succeeds,  not  alone 
in  obtaining  orders  from  them  for  their  coffee  and  other 
machinery,  but  in  introducing  German  manufactures  of 


DRUGS  AND  MEDICINES  157 

other  kinds ;  for  your  German  traveller  is  always  open 
for  business,  and,  indeed,  appears  to  live  for  very  little 
else.  Thus,  it  would  seem,  unless  some  "  move "  is 
made  by  British  manufacturers  of  coffee  and  rice 
machinery  in  this  part  of  the  world,  at  no  distant  date 
the  trade  will  be  snatched  from  them ;  and  that  once 
done,  nothing  will  probably  Succeed  in  bringing  it 
back  again.  Lost  ground  of  this  character  is  seldom 
recovered,  and  it  may  be  hoped  that  those  manufac- 
turers who  are  mostly  concerned  will  take  the  hint 
here  conveyed,  and  set  out  to  put  their  neglected 
houses  in  order.  The  coffee  industry  of  Salvador  is 
the  most  important  of  all  its  exports,  and  its  pursuit 
is  the  mainstay  of  the  country.  In  1910  the  value  was 
$5,130,404,  out  of  a  total  export  trade  of  $7,294,602. 

Among  the  British  goods  which  I  have  more  particu- 
larly noticed  to  be  well  displayed  in  the  retail  stores 
are  chemical  preparations  and  drugs.  The  Salvadoreans, 
like  most  Latin- Americans,  are  large  users  of  all  kinds 
of  patent  medicines ;  and  although  a  great  many  of 
these  come  from  the  United  States,  those  of  British 
manufacture  are  not  at  all  poorly  represented.  Such 
articles  as  Eno's  Fruit  Salt,  Apollinaris  and  Apenta 
Water,  Pears'  Soap,  Odol,  and  many  of  the  better- 
known  vegetable  pills,  are  to  be  found  here — except 
Cockle's,  which  are  a  very  difficult  drug  to  obtain, 
although  in  my  opinion  one  of  the  most  efficacious. 
The  chemists'  shops  are  full  of  all  kinds  of  other  drugs 
and  patent  medicines,  and  apparently  the  proprietors 
conduct  a  remarkably  good  trade. 

Relative  to  the  trade  of  pharmacy,  a  new  law  is 
proposed  which  will  regulate  the  practice  of  this  trade, 
and  which  will  create  a  Faculty  of  Pharmacy  and 
Natural  Sciences,  to  which  all  chemists  and  druggists, 


158    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

whether  native  or  foreign,  operating  in  the  country, 
must  belong.  In  default  of  membership  in  this  faculty, 
a  special  licence  will  have  to  be  taken  out  for  pharma- 
ceutical practice. 

Drugs,  medicines,  and  perfumery  to  the  value  of 
$82,676  were  imported  in  1910. 

In  regard  to  British  wines  and  spirits,  these  are 
hardly  ever  seen  except  in  the  houses  of  the  few 
British  residents  who  may  have  imported  a  small 
supply  for  their  own  use.  The  total  value  of  victuals, 
wines  and  spirits,  however,  is  not  inconsiderable, 
amounting  in  1909  to  about  12,748,249  kilos,  repre- 
senting a  value  of  £179,431,  which,  however,  contrasts 
with  15,689,307  kilos,  or  a  value  of  £211,819,  for  the 
previous  year.  The  wheat,  rice,  cereals  and  breakfast 
foods,  which  are  not  as  well  known  here  as  in  other 
parts  of  Latin- America,  come  from  the  United  States, 
which  also  send  here  by  far  the  greater  part  of  the 
lard,  tallow,  dairy  produce,  sweetmeats,  and  dried  and 
smoked  meat  and  fish.  The  United  Kingdom  shares 
in  the  salt  trade,  but  this  is  only  small. 

I  am  of  opinion  that  a  better  trade  could  be  done  by 
exporters  of  British  beers  and  liquors,  which  would  be 
purchased  here  to  a  more  considerable  extent.  The 
number  of  cafe's  and  restaurants  is  increasing,  and  the 
tendency  of  the  inhabitants,  especially  in  good  times,  is 
to  dine  from  home.  Although  beer  is  brewed,  it  is  more 
the  beverage  of  the  workers  than  of  the  well-to-do. 

In  regard  to  the  tobacco  and  liquor  trades  carried  on 
in  Salvador,  a  record  of  the  progress  and  management 
is  maintained  by  means  of  the  regulations  which  have 
been  introduced  covering  the  operation  of  cigar  and 
cigarette  factories  and  of  breweries  and  bottling 
establishments  in  the  Republic.  This  control  has  been 


PANAMA  CANAL  AND  TRADE      159 

in  vogue  since  June  of  1909.  Proprietors  of  these 
establishments  are  required  to  furnish  to  the  proper 
authorities  a  sworn  statement  as  to  the  capacities  of 
their  plants,  the  number  of  the  operatives  employed, 
etc.  The  analyses  previously  ordered  for  wines  and 
liquors  is  also  extended  to  beers,  both  manufactured 
and  imported. 

In  regard  to  the  duties  on  wines  and  canned  goods, 
imported  liquors  pay  a  duty  of  50  cents  ;  heavy  and 
white  wines,  25  cents  ;  and  old  table  wines,  5  cents — per. 
quart  bottle.  Canned  goods  pay  10  cents  per  kilo 
(  =  2*204,622  pounds).  These  duties  are  in  addition 
to  Customs  charges. 

What  effect  will  the  completion  and  opening  of  the 
Panama  Canal  have  upon  Salvador  and  other  Central 
American  countries  ?  I  have  often  been  asked  this 
question,  and  perhaps  this  is  as  good  a  place  as  any  in 
which  to  answer  it.  That  capital  from  North  America 
will  flow  more  abundantly  into  Central  America  after 
the  completion  of  the  great  waterway  is  a  practical 
certainty  ;  but  I  do  not  consider  that  there  will  be  any 
such  considerable  augmentation,  nor  that  the  difference 
will  be  so  prodigious,  in  regard  to  results,  as  some 
critics  imagine.  For  many  years  to  come  the  United 
States,  with  its  great  area  and  its  many  undeveloped 
resources,  will  need  more  capital — much  more,  indeed, 
than  it  can  conveniently  find  among  its  own  people ; 
that  is  to  say,  it  will  have  to  borrow  from  Europe  in 
addition  to  saving  all  that  it  can  on  its  own  account. 
The  old  world  has  nowadays  fewer  opportunities  for 
industrial  and  commercial  expansion  ;  money  is  com- 
paratively cheap,  and  all  new  countries  on  the  other 
side  of  the  Atlantic  offer  the  inducement  of  higher 
interest. 


160    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

How  much  of  this  investment  will  be  made  with 
purely  American  money  ?  The  Yankees  are  certainly 
becoming  more  and  more  enthusiastic,  and  at  the  same 
time  more  and  more  reckless,  in  their  foreign  invest- 
ments, and  especially  in  regard  to  Latin-American 
countries.  Nevertheless  they  have  a  long  way  to  go 
before,  in  actual  figures,  they  can  in  any  way  approach 
the  value  and  extent  of  British  foreign  investments. 
In  regard  to  the  return  which  their  investments  bring 
them  also,  they  have,  on  the  whole,  proved  far  less 
fortunate.  In  all  probability,  British  foreign  holdings 
in  South  and  Central  America  to-day  approach  the  sum 
of  £500,000,000  (  =  $2,500,000,000),  and  upon  this 
gigantic  amount  of  capital  they  earn  a  fair  average  of 
5  J  per  cent,  per  annum,  allowing  for  the  higher  and 
the  lower  rates  of  interest  paid,  and  which  amounts  to 
anything  between  25  per  cent,  and  35  per  cent,  on 
some  land  shares,  and  the  modest  4j  per  cent,  and 
4f  per  cent,  earned  upon  railway  debentures.  I  also 
include  in  this  return  some  "  bad  eggs  "  among  a  very 
diversified  list  of  investments. 

I  should  say,  on  the  other  hand,  that  American 
foreign  investments  would  not  amount  in  the  aggre- 
gate to  more  than  £200,000,000  ($1,000,000,000),  and 
of  this  at  least  seven- tenths  are  invested  in  the 
Republic  of  Mexico,  and  probably  two-tenths  in  enter- 
prises in  Canada.  American  foreign  investments  are, 
in  a  large  measure,  tributary  to  great  concerns  located 
in  the  United  States,  which  have  their  agents  in 
foreign  countries  looking  after  their  local  interests. 
From  this  considerable  invested  amount  it  would  be 
impossible  to  estimate  a  higher  return  than  2|  or  3  per 
cent. ;  for  while  many  of  the  investments — such  as  the 
Standard  Oil  interests  in  Mexico  and  the  many  bank- 


PANAMA  CANAL  EFFECT  161 

ing  interests  in  Cuba,  Panama  and  other  countries  — 
yield  often  a  sensational  amount  of  profit,  so  much 
capital  has  been  lost  through  rank  speculation  and  dis- 
honest management,  and  so  little  sound  judgment  has 
been  displayed  in  the  matter  of  sound  original  selection, 
that  a  considerable  portion  has  been  irretrievably  lost. 
This  has  been  the  case  in  the  Sonora  district  of  Mexico 
(especially  in  the  Cananea  Copper-Mines)  ;  in  the  gold 
and  silver  mines  of  Guanajuato  ;  and  in  connection 
with  some  of  the  railways  of  Costa  Rica,  Guatemala 
and  Ecuador,  so  that  what  has  been  made  on  the 
one  hand  has,  to  an  appreciable  extent,  been  lost  on 
the  other. 

Thus  I  do  not  anticipate  any  very  pronounced  rush 
of  American  capital  into  Central  America  merely 
because  the  Canal  will  have  become  un  fait  accompli. 
On  the  other  hand,  the  United  States  trade  and 
commerce  must  feel  benefit  from  the  speedier  means  of 
transport.  Already  the  United  States  control  60*8  per 
cent,  of  the  importations  into  Mexico,  and  89  per  cent. 
into  Panama  ;  something  over  70  per  cent,  into  Costa 
Rica,  and  about  60  per  cent,  (increasing  year  by  year) 
into  Guatemala.  With  the  active  assistance  of  the 
Washington  Government,  in  conjunction  with  the  com- 
pulsory financial  "  assistance  "  forced  upon  them  by  the 
J.  Pierpont  Morgan  Syndicate,  Honduras  will  also 
shortly  be  taking  about  80  per  cent,  of  the  United 
States  goods  as  well  as  accepting  nolens  volens  the  loan 
of  United  States  capital. 

It  is,  however,  the  Republics  of  Ecuador,  Peru, 
Bolivia  and  Chile  which  will  become  better  markets 
for  the  United  States  through  the  medium  of  the 
Panama  Canal  ;  and  while  I  was  travelling  recently 
upon  the  west  coast,  I  particularly  remarked  the 


162    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

arrangements  which  were  being  organized  to  handle 
this  anticipated  additional  trade  with  all  efficiency  and 
despatch.  American  agents  were  busy  opening-up  new 
branches  or  appointing  local  representatives  to  handle 
the  goods  destined  to  be  consigned  in  increased  quanti- 
ties ;  German  houses,  already  established,  were  also 
arranging  their  houses  and  remodelling  their  order- 
books  to  deal  with  the  expected  reorganization  of 
North  American  trade,  all  of  which  proves  that  a  very 
substantial  belief  exists  in  the  approaching  trade 
"  boom  "  consequent  upon  the  opening,  in  1915,  of  the 
Panama  Canal. 

What  attention  are  British  manufacturers  and  British 
agents  paying  to  this  all- important  question  ?  This  is 
very  easily  answered — NONE  ! 

The  first  place  in  the  Imports  from  European 
countries  into  Salvador  is  given  to  cotton-manu- 
factured goods,  nearly  the  whole  of  which,  I  may 
again  point  out,  come  from  Great  Britain.  In  1906, 
out  of  a  total  of  $4,000,000,  which  represented  the 
value  of  the  imports,  cotton  goods  figured  for 
$1,500,000,  or  30  per  cent,  of  the  total.  Of  this 
$1,500,000,  Great  Britain  was  responsible  for  $974,964, 
which  represented  woven  goods,  in  addition  to  $141, 328 
representing  the  value  of  thread.  The  United  States 
came  second  on  the  list,  with  textiles  valued  at 
$409,072,  and  thread  $2,885,  although  in  the  list  of 
this  classification  America  was  outranked  by  both 
Germany  and  France,  which  sold  thread  to  Salvador  to 
the  value  of  $8,349  and  $4,160  respectively.  These 
two  countries  exported  textiles  to  Salvador  to  the 
amount  of  $32,199  and  $71,890  respectively,  while 
Italy  figured  for  $54,952. 

In  this  class  of  goods,  practically  the  same  relative 


« 


D      » 

1  1 

H    S 


WOOLLEN  GOODS  163 

status  of  countries  has  been  maintained  on  the  Import 
list  of  the  Eepublic  since  the  year  1876  ;  but  it  is  note- 
worthy that  the  position  of  cotton  imports  has,  in  the 
intervening  period,  declined  no  less  than  50  per  cent, 
of  the  total ;  on  the  other  hand,  the  value  of  cotton 
thread  destined  for  use  in  the  mills  of  the  country 
has  increased  fivefold  since  1901,  while  mixtures  of 
woollens,  linens  and  silks  have  also  advanced  in  value. 
This  is  to  be  explained  by  the  fact  that  more  woollen 
and  cotton  mills  are  gradually  being  erected  in  the 
Republic,  and  that  a  great  amount  of  encouraging 
success  is  attending  their  operations.  The  skill  of  the 
native  weavers,  the  improvement  of  the  quality  of  the 
cottons,  and  the  industrious  lives  of  the  inhabitants, 
are  all  factors  which  have  led  the  Government  to  con- 
sider the  advisability  of  encouraging  the  growth  of  the 
required  supply  upon  a  more  comprehensive  scale. 
Already,  indeed,  the  Government  have  commenced, 
offering  export  bounties  for  the  surplus  stock,  with  a 
view  to  stimulating  the  culture. 

In  this  connection  it  is  difficult  to  understand  how 
any  intelligent  writer,  who  claims  to  have  visited 
Salvador  with  his  eyes  open,  could  have  published 
such  an  utterly  misleading  and  untruthful  statement 
of  fact  as  that  which  appears  in  a  book  entitled 
"  Central  America,"  from  the  pen  of  Mr.  Frederick 
Palmer,  F.R.G.S.,  who  upon  p.  112  of  that  volume 
declares  that  "  the  only  manufactures  are  from  an 
occasional  hand-loom."  Mr.  Palmer  does  not  inform 
his  readers  how  many  days  or  hours  he  remained 
in  Salvador,  but  apparently  they  were  insufficient 
to  enable  him  to  make  himself  even  superficially 
acquainted  with  the  industrial  conditions  of  the 
Republics.  He  devotes  exactly  eleven  and  a  half 


164    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

pages  out  of  a  total  of  340  to  this  country,  and  upon 
nearly  each  one  of  these  pages  he  indulges  in  either 
an  exaggeration  or  in  a  misstatement,  sometimes  in 
both. 

An  important  factor  in  the  trade  relations  existing 
between  Great  Britain  and  the  Republic  of  Salvador 
is  found  in  the  Salvador  Chamber  of  Commerce  in 
London  (Incorporated),  which  was  established  upon 
the  initiative  of  Mr.  Mark  J.  Kelly,  F.R.G.S.,  in 
February,  1903,  and  duly  incorporated  under  licence 
of  the  Board  of  Trade.  It  will  be  remembered  that 
the  President  of  the  Salvadorean  Chamber  of  Com- 
merce in  San  Salvador,  as  well  as  being  its  Founder, 
is  Senor  Don  Miguel  Duefias,  Sub- Secretary  of  State 
for  Agriculture.  The  first  President  of  the  Chamber 
was  Mr.  C.  S.  S.  Guthrie,  of  9,  Idol  Lane,  London,  E.G., 
with  Mr.  C.  Hozenraad,  President  of  the  Federation 
of  Foreign  Chambers  of  Commerce  in  the  United 
Kingdom,  as  Vice  -  President.  The  objects  of  the 
Association  are  to  promote  the  trade,  agriculture  and 
industry  of  Salvador  with  the  British  Empire ;  to  keep 
members  informed  and  acquainted  with  all  matters  in 
connection  with  the  trade  of  Salvador  ;  and  to  promote 
study  upon  all  questions  relating  to  the  various  inter- 
national Conventions  which  concern  the  trade  between 
Salvador  and  Great  Britain,  as  well  as  to  act  as 
commercial  arbitrators  at  the  request  of  interested 
parties,  and  exclusively  in  commercial  disputes,  where 
the  interests  of  Salvador  trade  are  at  stake.  The 
Chamber  numbers  some  forty  members,  composed  of 
merchants  of  London  and  other  parts  of  the  United 
Kingdom  doing  business  with  Salvador.  Upon  his 
resignation  of  the  chairmanship  of  the  Salvador  Rail- 
way, Mr.  Guthrie  also  resigned  from  the  Chamber  of 


CHAMBER  OF  COMMERCE  165 

Commerce,  and,  at  the  urgent  request  of  the  Council 
of  the  Chamber,  Mr.  Kelly,  who  with  characteristic 
modesty  had  refrained  from  allowing  himself  to  be 
elected  as  the  first  President,  accepted  the  post  (which 
is  a  purely  honorary  one),  and  is  now  the  President  of 
the  Chamber. 


CHAPTER  XIII 

Systems  of  business — Long  credits — British  and  United  States  methods 
versus  German — Making  "  good  "  stock  losses — Question  of  exchange 
— Effect  upon  business — Drafts  and  speculators — Customary  terms 
of  payment — Central  American  banks  as  agents — Prominent  Salva- 
dorean Banks — The  Press  of  the  Republic — Prominent  newspapers — 
Some  of  their  contributors — Central  American  Press  Conference. 

THE  general  idea  prevails  among  both  British  and 
North  American  manufacturers,  who  have  had  little 
personal  experience  of  the  Latin  -  Americans,  that 
extreme  difficulties  must  inevitably  be  connected  with 
all — or,  at  least,  with  most — transactions  conducted 
in  these  countries,  as  far  as  payment  for  goods  is  con- 
cerned. I  can  but  observe  that  the  Latin- Americans 
as  a  race,  if  not  more  honest  than  Europeans  or  North 
Americans,  are  by  no  means  any  less  so  ;  and  probably, 
if  sufficiently  reliable  information  were  obtainable,  it 
would  be  found  that  these  former  are,  as  a  whole, 
quite  as  ready  and  able  to  meet  their  foreign  obliga- 
tions as  any  class  of  traders  in  either  hemisphere. 

As  I  have,  however,  pointed  out  in  another  chapter 
of  this  volume,  it  would  be  extremely  unwise  upon  the 
part  of  any  firm  in  Great  Britain  or  in  the  United 
States  to  attempt  to  conduct  their  transactions  by 
correspondence  ;  an  Agent  is  indispensable  if  difficulties 
in  transportation  and  delivery  through  the  Customs, 
as  well  as  the  collection  of  the  account  when  due,  are 
to  be  avoided. 

166 


BANK  PROCEDURE  167 

In  most  of  the  Central  American  ports  and  cities, 
especially  (in  Salvador)  at  La  Libertad,  La  Union, 
El  Triunfo,  and  Acajutla,  the  services  of  such  Agents 
are  obtainable.  Moreover,  some  of  the  banks  under- 
take to  look  after  the  interests  of  their  correspondents 
who  are  recommended  to  them,  and  who  are  prepared 
to  pay  a  fair  price  for  the  services  rendered. 

The  usual  method  of  conducting  transactions  of  this 
kind  is  to  draw  upon  the  purchaser  of  goods  for  the 
amount  of  the  invoice,  and  to  negotiate  the  draft 
through  some  local  bank,  which  will  in  the  majority 
of  cases  collect  the  amount,  provided  the  shipping 
documents  be  delivered  in  good  order  and  are  found 
to  be  free  from  consular  or  Customs -house  objections. 
The  banks,  naturally,  take  no  responsibility  in  the 
matter ;  and  in  any  case  the  shipper  should  know 
something  reliable  about  the  firm  and  their  financial 
status  before  entrusting  them  with  the  goods.  Another 
mode  is  for  the  purchaser  of  the  goods  to  arrange  with 
his  own  bankers  to  open  a  credit  with  the  shipping 
firm  to  be  operated  upon,  against  delivery  of  the 
documents  to  the .  bank  indicated,  or  in  such  other 
form  as  may  be  agreed  upon ;  while  a  third  expedient 
— an  unusual  one,  however,  and  not  to  be  recom- 
mended— is  to  make  a  remittance  to  the  buyer  before- 
hand, either  by  means  of  a  bank  draft  or  cable  transfer. 
The  safest  method  to  adopt  is  to  draw  bills  on  the 
importing  firm  at  a  usance,^  agreed  upon  at  the  time 
that  the  order  is  taken,  generally  from  90  to  120 
days'  sight,  and  to  pass  the  bill  and  documents 
through  the  bank  for  collection  or  sale.  The  draft  is 

*  Usance = the  time  which  in  certain  countries  is  allowed  by  custom  or 
usage  for  the  payment  of  bills  of  exchange  drawn  on  those  countries. — 
AUTHOR. 


168    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

usually  made  payable  in  return  remittance  at  90  days' 
sight  on  London,  Hamburg,  or  New  York,  but  this  is 
quite  a  matter  of  mutual  arrangement  between  buyer 
and  seller. 

American  as  well  as  British  export  firms  are,  as  a 
rule,  disinclined  to  give  credit,  while  the  German,  on 
the  other  hand,  offers  as  much  as  his  customer 
demands.  Undoubtedly  the  latter  loses  a  larger  pro- 
portion of  his  book-debts  by  pursuing  so  generous  a 
policy  ;  but  at  the  same  time  he  multiplies  the  orders 
upon  his  books,  and  he  has  a  clever  and  somewhat  un- 
scrupulous way  of  so  manipulating  the  accounts  of  his 
honest  customers  as  to  make  them  directly  or  in- 
directly liquidate  the  debts  of  the  dishonest  ones. 
How  this  is  done  I  do  not  know,  but  I  know  that  it  is 
done,  for  I  have  the  assurance  to  that  effect  from  more 
than  one  German  trader  who  has  thus  balanced  his 
ledger  for  several  years,  and  always  without  suffering 
any  bad  consequences. 

That  the  sanctimonious  and  strictly  conscientious 
British  tradesman  is  not  altogether  averse,  upon  occa- 
sions, to  pursue  similar  methods  was  shown  some  few 
years  ago,  when  a  prominent  West  End  saddler  con- 
fessed to  the  fact  that  when  he  took  stock  and  found  a 
gentleman's  £5  saddle  was  missing,  and  that  he  was 
unable  to  remember  to  whom  it  had  been  sold,  he 
instructed  his  bookkeeper  to  charge  up  this  item 
to  each  one  of  the  firm's  customers.  "  Some,"  he 
unctuously  observed,  "  will,  of  course,  deny  that  they 
have  had  such  a  saddle ;  to  these  you  can  write  and 
express  our  profound  apologies  for  the  unintentional 
error,  etc.  Those  who  don't  complain  will  probably  be 
unable  to  remember  what  they  had  and  what  they  did 
not  have.  Let  them  pay.  Thus  we  shall  get  square." 


CLEARING  GOODS  169 

And  it  is  to  be  added  that  so  careless  or  forgetful 
are  the  majority  of  the  customers  of  a  "  high-class  " 
firm  in  London,  that  70  per  cent,  of  those  who  were 
wrongly  charged  with  the  missing  saddle  paid  the 
unjust  bill  without  questioning  it. 

Adverting  to  the  subject  of  granting  long  credit  to 
Central  American  importers  of  foreign  goods,  it  must 
be  remembered  that  the  majority  of  these  latter  are 
obliged  to  ask  for  this  indulgence  on  account  of  the 
excessively  large  amounts  which  they  are  called  upon 
to  find  in  order  to  clear  their  consignments  from  the 
Customs ;  and  also  because  the  retail  business  which 
is  carried  on  in  these,  as  in  practically  all  agricultural 
countries,  is  a  long- credit  one.  Only  the  most  liberal 
concessions  of  credit  can  secure  any  decisive  advantage 
for  any  one  of  the  numerous  competitors  in  business. 
Additionally,  it  is  not  always  possible  for  the  importer 
to  secure  good  drafts  at  low  rates  in  the  market.  In 
some  of  the  countries — and  Salvador  is  not  any  excep- 
tion— the  market  for  drafts  is  completely  dominated  by 
speculators,  evidence  of  which  is  to  be  found  in  the 
fact  that  heavy  and  unaccountable  fluctuations  pre- 
sent themselves  at  short  intervals.  The  possibility  of 
speculators  thus  controlling  the  market  is  increased  by 
their  finding  in  the  banks — no  matter  how  highly  these 
may  be  ranked  as  honourably-conducted  institutions — 
ready  allies. 

The  question  of  exchange  in  Salvador,  and  the  bane- 
ful effect  which  it  has,  and  for  some  years  has  had, 
upon  commerce  and  trade,  especially  upon  the  profit- 
able conduct  of  the  Salvador  Eailway,  is  more 
fully  dealt  with  in  another  part  of  this  volume  (see 
Chapter  XV.).  But  a  few  observations  concerning 
the  character  of  the  exchange  business  in  Central 


170    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

American  countries  generally  may  not  be  out  of  place 
here. 

In  Honduras,  exchange  rates  are  often  only  nominal, 
because  no  regular  commercial  paper  is  to  be  found  in 
the  market.  The  large  exports  of  minerals,  bananas, 
and  other  produce,  are  covered,  since  the  proprietors, 
who  are  mostly  foreigners,  need  only  the  necessary 
amount  for  the  wages  of  their  labourers,  and  this  is 
remitted  to  the  country  by  means  of  drafts.  The 
exporters,  moreover,  consider  the  premium  on  gold  not 
only  as  profit  earned  upon  their  sales,  but  as  represent- 
ing an  economy  in  their  working  expenses,  since  the 
export  product  and  the  wages  for  labour  are  paid  for 
in  silver,  which  naturally  makes  the  first  cost  of  the 
product  much  less.  Drafts  are  in  this  way  arbitrarily 
held  back  and  kept  out  of  the  market,  or  prices  are 
asked  for  them  which  are  out  of  all  proportion  to  the 
silver  quotations  of  London  and  New  York.  So  the 
importer  in  these  silver  standard  countries,  in  some  of 
which  the  exportation  of  the  white  metal  is  prohibited, 
finds  himself  compelled  to  wait  for  a  favourable  oppor- 
tunity to  buy  drafts  at  a  low  rate  in  order  to  pay  for 
his  purchases  in  foreign  countries. 

The  customary  terms  of  payment  for  European 
houses  are  four  to  six  months  from  the  date  of  the 
invoice ;  in  many  cases  shipments  are  made  "  to 
order,"  and  the  bill  of  lading  is  delivered  to  the 
purchaser  when  he  accepts  the  seller's  draft  at  his 
local  bank,  and  in  this  way  the  customer  is  held  to 
strict  observance  of  the  time  when  the  bill  falls  due. 
In  case  of  failure  of  the  customer  to  meet  his  drafts 
when  they  mature,  the  matter  is  generally  arranged 
by  issuing  drafts  payable  at  sight  after  ninety  days 
on  London  or  Hamburg,  with  payment  of  interest 


CREDIT  ACCOMMODATION  171 

for  the  time  they  are  out.  The  operations  of  having 
drafts  accepted  and  remitting  the  funds  collected 
through  them  are  carried  out  by  the  large  banks  or 
private  banking  firms  located  in  these  countries  in 
consideration  of  a  commission  varying  between  J  and 
2  per  cent. 

Open  credits  (that  is  to  say,  running  accounts  which 
the  customer  can  vary  in  amount  to  suit  his  needs, 
with  payment  of  interest,  of  course)  are  no  longer 
granted,  except  by  a  few  firms  to  some  of  their  oldest 
and  best  customers. 

The  intelligent  and  not  over-cautious  European 
exporter  accepts  without  hesitation  the  usual  six- 
months  terms,  because  he  has  some  knowledge  of 
these  countries  and  their  people ;  and  he  often  prefers 
such  a  settlement  to  cash  in  advance,  since  he  likewise 
recognizes  that  he  is  binding  the  customer  to  do  more 
business  with  his  firm.  On  the  other  hand,  one  often 
hears  commercial  houses  complain  that  when  they 
decide  to  place  a  trial  order  with  North  American  firms 
which  are  desirous  of  doing  business  with  them,  and 
have  repeatedly  and  insistently  solicited  such  orders, 
they  are  required  to  pay  cash  with  the  order.  That 
nobody  in  Central  America  would  accept  such  terms, 
or  at  least  very  seldom,  the  clever  Yankee  business 
man  ought  to  be  able  to  see,  especially  as  the  most 
notable  traits  of  the  Spanish -American  character  are 
extreme  sensitiveness  and  the  need  of  courteous 
treatment. 

A  cash  discount  of  3  to  4  per  cent,  is  not  much 
of  an  inducement  in  a  country  where  the  usual  rates 
of  interest  are  18  to  40  per  cent.  Some  of  the  banks 
of  Central  America,  which  secure  but  a  small  and 
unimportant  share  of  the  business  going,  and  which 


172    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

pay  less  attention  to  the  development  of  the  country 
than  to  the  needs  of  their  own  treasuries,  often  demand 
1  to  1^  per  cent,  monthly,  with  security  worth  two  or 
three  times  the  sum  loaned. 

There  are  no  established  commercial  agencies  in 
Central  America  which  furnish  information,  but  reliable 
information  uninfluenced  by  personal  interests  can 
sometimes  be  obtained  from  the  principal  banking 
firms — such,  for  instance,  in  Guatemala,  as  the  Inter- 
national Bank,  American  Bank  or  Guatemala  Bank, 
Clermont  and  Co.,  Schlubach,  Dauch  and  Co.  ;  in 
Salvador,  from  the  Banco  Agricola,  Occidental  or 
National  Bank,  and  Messrs.  David  Bloom  and  Co. ; 
in  Panama,  Messrs.  Ehrmann  Brothers ;  in  Honduras, 
from  J.  Rossner  and  Co.,  P.  Maier  and  Co.,  Francisco 
Siercke,  and  Juan  Stradtmann ;  in  Nicaragua,  from 
the  young  and  well-respected  British  Consul,  Mr. 
Albert  J.  Martin ;  and  in  Costa  Rica  from  the  follow- 
ing banks  :  Anglo-Costa  Rica,  Commercial  and  Sasso 
and  Pirie.  These  houses  are  better  informed  than 
anyone  else  about  the  amount  of  credit  customers  may 
deserve,  because,  knowing  the  promptness  with  which 
the  various  firms  meet  their  outstanding  drafts,  they 
are  in  a  position  to  form  a  reliable  opinion  of  the 
solvency  of  prospective  or  actual  customers. 

The  Banco  Agricola  Comercial  has  a  subscribed 
capital  of  $5,000,000,  of  which  $1,000,000  is  paid  up. 
The  Reserve  Fund  amounts  to  $100,000,  and  Even- 
tualities Fund  to  $115,180.  The  Permanent  Director 
is  Seftor  Mauricio  Duke,  and  the  Consulting  Directors 
Senores  J.  Mauricio  Duke  and  Eugenio  Aguila.  There 
are  two  other  Sub-Directors,  Senores  Rafael  Guirola 
and  Miguel  Judice.  Sefior  F.  Drews  is  the  General 
Manager. 


BANCO  AGRICOLA 


173 


The  Banco  Agricola  Comercial,  which  was  established 
in  1895,  has  gone  through  more  than  one  critical 
financial  and  commercial  period,  but  it  has  come  out 
of  the  ordeal  with  considerable  credit  to  itself.  There 
can  be  no  doubt  that  the  bank  has  been  a  great 
assistance  to  agriculture  and  trade  generally  in  the 
Republic,  nor  that  it  has  not  done  at  all  badly  for  itself, 
which  fact  is  seen  from  the  last  balance-sheets  issued. 
In  1908,  upon  a  total  turnover  of  $14,500,000,  the 
bank's  profits  were  $145,634  (silver  p&sos).  There 
was  a  dividend  of  8  per  cent,  paid  to  the  shareholders 
upon  the  paid-up  capital  of  $1,000,000  (pesos)  after 
all  charges  for  administration  had  been  met,  and  a 
substantial  addition  made  to  the  Emergency  Fund. 
In  1909  the  total  amount  of  business  transacted  figured 
at  $16,200,000  (silver  pesos). 

The  following  summary  of  the  bank's  financial 
transactions  and  position  over  a  period  of  three  years 
will  be  of  interest : 


"ri-d  OB 

a 

. 

'g  g  8b 

-§     42 

"§  !?ig 

J 

1 

§  »  I? 

o'fl  o 

g'g  §3 

o 

J£| 

%     Q 

"^ 

1 

First  half  of  1907 

717 

588 

906 

780 

816 

Second    „        „ 

565 

758 

828 

931 

741 

First  half  of  1908 

935 

779 

1,175 

991 

816 

Second     „        „ 

1,441 

1,013 

1,485 

1,186 

984 

First  half  of  1909 

1,424 

1,213 

1,954 

1,142 

921 

Second    „        „ 

946 

1,181 

1,603 

1,453 

969 

It  will  be  observed  that  the  last  year's  showing  is 
less  favourable  to  the  bank,  but  this  may  be  attributed 
to  the  heavy  demands  made  upon  its  resources  in 
financing  the  movement  of  the  coffee  crop.  The 
metallic  reserve  for  meeting  outstanding  obligations 


174     SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 


over  the  same  period  had  been  considerably  weakened  in 
consequence,  as  the  subjoined  table  will  prove  : 

METALLIC  RESERVE. 
(A  denotes  notes  alone  ;  B  denotes  notes,  deposits  and  current  accounts.) 


At  the  End  of  the  Month, 
in  per  Cent. 

June. 

December. 

A. 

B. 

A. 

B. 

1907 
1908 
1909 

87-89 
114-39 
154-60 

44-63 
46-90 
49-54 

76-27 
146-35 
97-62 

37-82 
58-33 
34-86 

This  bank,  like  others  in  Salvador,  does  not  disclose 
the  character  of  its  investments,  and  it  is  therefore 
impossible  to  pronounce  any  opinion  of  its  actual 
financial  status.  It  is  always  desirable  to  know  some- 
thing regarding  the  character  of  the  paper  which  a 
bank  has  in  hand,  and  it  is  precisely  this  knowledge 
which  is  withheld,  and  by  many  British  companies  also. 
The  omission  to  provide  it  is  in  no  way  the  fault  of  the 
bank,  be  it  observed,  but  of  the  custom  which  controls 
its  actions.  In  Costa  Rica  alone,  among  the  Central 
American  States,  is  the  practice  general  among  the 
banks  to  publish  in  the  balance-sheets  some  particulars 
of  the  commercial  paper  carried,  and  this  is  taken  into 
account  like  every  other  asset  and  inventoried.  In 
Costa  Rica,  also,  all  the  issuing  banks  have  their  books 
inspected  once  a  month  by  Government  officials,  and  a 
certificate  of  solvency  is  presented  to  and  published  by 
them. 

The  National  Bank  of  Salvador  (Banco  Nacional) 
was  founded  in  1907  with  a  capital  of  $1,0 00,0 00  (silver 
pesos).  Of  this  amount  one-half  has  been  paid  up. 


NATIONAL  BANK 


175 


The  following  statement  of  account  for  the  first  three 
years  of  its  existence  will  be  useful  : 


1907. 

1908. 

First  Half 
of  1909. 

Total  earnings 
Deductions... 

Net  profits 
Increase  in 

18,173.74 
3,000.00 

38,786.85 
8,138.35 

26,175.36 
6,175.36 

16,173.74 
1908,  15,442 

30,648.50 
26. 

20,000.00 

The  balance-sheet  shows  the  following  accounts  : 


1907. 

1908. 

First  Half 
of  1909. 

Negotiable  paper 

568,727 

675,176 

427,751 

Loans  on  current  accounts 

546,331 

777,847 

724,734 

Cash 

264,374 

634,803 

449,207 

Notes  in  circulation  ... 

90,908 

517,153 

426,732 

Credit  and  deposits  at  sight 

211,361 

365,333 

302,870 

Time  obligations 

223,905 

502,174 

436,682 

The  metallic  reserve  account  stood  as  follows  : 


June. 

December. 

At  the  End  of  the  Month, 

in  per  Cent. 

A. 

B. 

A. 

B. 

1907 

354-32 

39-36 

262-90 

60-05 

1908 

115-93 

60-10 

126-47 

42-70 

1909 

105-26 

38-50 

The  steady  increase  shown  is  somewhat  remarkable, 
and  the  distribution  of  profits,  considering  the  com- 
paratively recent  establishment  of  this  bank,  hardly 
less  so.  This  distribution,  after  making  all  the  neces- 
sary provisions,  stood  as  follows  : 


176    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 


1907. 

1908. 

First  Half 
of  1909. 

Keserve  fund 

3,000 

7,000 

10,000 

Emergency  fund 

— 

2,000 

2,000 

Dividends    ... 

— 

30,618 

21,503 

Undivided  surplus     ... 

15,173 

2,980 

1,675 

For  the  first  six  months  of  1909,  the  dividend 
declared  and  paid  was  4  per  cent,  upon  the  amount  of 
capital  paid  up= $500,000  (silver  pesos).  For  the 
remaining  half-year  and  for  1910,  and  the  first  half  of 
1911,  increased  distributions  have  been  made,  and  the 
financial  condition  and  prospects  of  the  Banco 
Nacional  are  considered  to  be  in  a  satisfactory  state. 
Sefior  Guillermo  Hemmeler  is  the  Manager,  and  he 
has  bought  up  the  connection  of  the  bank's  customers 
consistently  from  the  time  that  he  first  assumed  con- 
trol. The  bank  allows  3  per  cent,  interest  upon 
current  accounts,  and  it  has  the  privilege  of  issuing  its 
own  notes. 

El  Banco  Salvadoreno  was  established  in  1885,  and 
has  a  subscribed  and  paid-up  capital  of  $3,000,000. 
The  Reserve  Fund  amounts  to  $231,985.80  and  the 
Dividend  Equalization  Fund  to  $20,000  ;  the  Eventu- 
alities Fund  at  present  stands  at  $50,000.  There  are 
branches  established  at  Santa  Ana  (the  Manager  being 
Senor  Cuno  G.  Mathies)  and  at  San  Miguel  (the 
Manager  being  Senor  R.  Schlensz).  The  General 
Manager  in  San  Salvador  is  Senor  Alberto  W.  Augspurg  , 
who  speaks  English  very  well,  and  is  invariably  courte- 
ous and  obliging  to  foreigners  who  seek  his  assistance 
or  advice. 

Banking  business  in  Salvador  always  has  been,  and 
still  is,  carried  on  by  a  few  private  firms.  The  estab- 
lishment conducted  by  Messrs.  Blanco  and  Trigueros  was 


MESSRS.  DAVID  BLOOM  AND  CO.  177 

founded  as  far  back  as  1835,  with  a  capital  estimated 
at  $1,500,000.  In  1893  the  Bank  of  Nicaragua  opened 
a  branch  office  in  the  city  of  San  Salvador,  and  for 
long  did  a  good  and  steady  business.  Certain  con- 
cessions and  privileges  were  also  granted  to  Messrs. 
Linares  and  Co.,  of  Barcelona,  Spain,  enabling  them  to 
establish  a  national  bank  in  San  Salvador,  with  a  capital 
of  £1,000,000  sterling.  A  concession  was  also  granted 
for  the  establishment  of  a  purely  Mortgage  Bank,  but 
up  till  now  such  an  establishment  has  not  been 
started. 

The  House  of  David  Bloom  and  Co.,  with  branches 
at  New  York  and  San  Francisco,  is  composed  of 
Messrs.  David  and  Benjamim  Bloom,  and  who  are  the 
principal  private  bankers  of  the  Government.  Subject 
to  the  criticism  which  this  position  involves,  mainly 
upon  the  part  of  those,  perhaps,  who  are  not  as  well 
endowed  as  are  Messrs.  Bloom  and  Co.  with  moral 
courage  and  confidence  in  the  peaceful  continuity  of 
government  in  Salvador,  this  firm  enjoys  an  excellent 
reputation  for  fair  dealing,  and  is  well  regarded 
throughout  the  country. 

The  Press  of  the  Republic  is  well  represented  by 
some  five  or  six  daily  newspapers,  several  weekly 
publications,  and  a  number  of  monthly  reviews.  There 
are  entirely  free  press  laws  existing,  and  on  the  whole 
there  is  no  abuse  of  the  privileges  accorded  for  ex- 
pressing public  opinion.  El  Diario  del  Salvador  was 
founded  in  July  of  1894  by  Senor  R  Mayorga  Rivas, 
and  is  to-day  conducted  by  the  same  talented  journal- 
ist and  cultured  writer.  The  General  Manager  is 
Senor  J.  M.  Lacayo  T&llez.  Among  its  regular  con- 
tributors are  Senores  J.  Dols  Corpeno,  a  young  but 
vigorous  writer ;  Armando  Rodriguez  Portillo,  who 


178    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

is  but  thirty  years  of  age  ;  and  other  distinguished 
litterateurs  of  Salvador.  El  Diario  Latino,  of  which 
Sefior  Miguel  Pinto  is  the  Director  and  Proprietor,  and 
Senor  Juan  Ram6n  Uriarte  is  the  Editor,  has  a  large 
and  influential  circulation,  which  is  by  no  means  con- 
fined to  the  Republic  itself.  El  Heraldo  del  Salvador, 
which  is  the  recognized  organ  of  the  Church,  is  edited 
by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Eduardo  Martinez  Balsalobre.  It  is, 
as  may  be  assumed,  a  high-class  publication,  and  pub- 
lishes occasionally  some  powerful  literary  contributions 
from  the  pens  of  some  of  the  most  talented  writers. 
El  Diario  Oficial  is  the  property  and  exponent  of  the 
Government,  but  scarcely  takes  rank  as  a  newspaper, 
being  in  all  respects  similar  to  our  London  Gazette, 
with  the  exception  that  it  prints  daily  a  good  service 
of  cables. 

Among  the  many  weekly  publications  of  note  may 
be  cited  La  Riqueza  and  La  Vida  y  Verdad;  La 
Semana  Mercantil,  which  is  the  organ  of  the  Society 
known  as  "  Orden  y  Prosperidad  "  ;  El  Franciscano,  a 
Catholic  paper  conducted  by  a  Franciscan  Brother  ; 
Repertorio  del  Diario  del  Salvador,  a  well-illustrated 
review  of  literary,  commercial,  and  social  matters,  and 
edited  by  a  gentleman  bearing  the  very  English  name 
of  Samuel  C.  Dawson.  This  publication  is,  as  its  title 
may  suggest,  closely  allied  with  the  great  daily  paper 
El  Diario  del  Salvador.  Other  publications  are — La 
Razon  Catdlica,  a  monthly  Church  organ  ;  El  Comer- 
do  del  Salvador,  also  a  monthly  illustrated  dealing 
with  politics,  sociology,  and  a  variety  of  other  subjects  ; 
En  Serio  y  en  Broma,  a  humorous  monthly  review  ; 
as  well  as  a  large  number  of  technical  prints,  weekly 
and  monthly,  such  as — Anales  del  Museo  National, 
Archivos  del  Hospital  Rosates,  Vida  Intelectual,  Revista 


J  *  J   J  J  J 


GOVERNMENT  BUILDING  ("CASA  BLANCA"),  SAN  SALVADOR. 


CAMPO  DE  MARTE  (RACE  COURSE),  SAN  SALVADOR. 


THE  PRESS  179 

Judicial,  Boletin  de  Agricultura,  Revista  Cientifico- 
Militar,  Libro  Rosado  de  El  Salvador,  Boletin  Munici- 
pal, Boletin  del  Consejo  Superior  de  Salubridad,  La 
Voz  del  Obrero,  Boletin  Masonico,  La  Buena  Prensa, 
La  Luciernaga,  and  Juan  de  Arco. 

Each  of  the  Departments  has  likewise  one  or  more 
daily  or  weekly  papers,  many  carrying  great  influence 
among  the  better-class  Salvadoreans,  who  are  both 
diligent  readers  and  intelligent  critics.  In  Santa  Ana 
there  are  El  Democrata,  which  was  founded  in  1900, 
and  a  weekly  known  as  El  Santaneco.  In  Chalchuapa 
there  are  two  weeklies,  La  Vanguardia  and  El  Patriota; 
in  Achuachapan  there  is  one  weekly,  La  Nueva  Era ; 
in  Sonsonate,  La  Prensa,  also  a  weekly ;  in  Santa 
Tecla,  Don  Bosco,  a  weekly  which  is  the  organ  of  the 
Institute  Salesiano ;  in  Cojutepeque  there  are  two 
periodicals,  one  weekly  and  one  monthly,  respectively 
known  as  El  Impartial  and  El  Cuscatleco ;  in  Suchitoto, 
a  monthly  review,  La  Mujer  (The  Woman),  holds  the 
field  ;  in  Santiago  de  Maria,  El  Anunciador ;  and  in 
San  Miguel,  El  Eco  de  Oriente.  A  fair  share  of  local 
advertising  is  accorded  to  all  of  these  publications,  but, 
of  a  necessity,  in  the  majority  of  cases  the  circulation 
is  small. 

There  was  recently  formed  a  Central  American 
Press  Association,  composed  of  the  representatives  of 
the  principal  newspapers  published  in  the  five  Re- 
publics of  Salvador,  Guatemala,  Costa  Eica,  Nicaragua, 
and  Honduras.  Already  the  news  published  in  each 
State  concerning  the  sister-Republics  is  full ;  but  the 
new  association,  working  by  means  of  a  mutual  ex- 
change of  information  fit  for  publication,  will  result 
in  a  considerably  improved  service  being  maintained. 
The  papers  which  have  taken  the  initiative  in  this 


180    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

important  Association  are — Diario  del  Salvador  (El 
Salvador),  Diario  de  Centro  America  (Guatemala), 
Diario  de  Nicaragua  (Nicaragua),  and  La  Republica 
(Costa  Rica).  Towards  the  end  of  this  year  (1911)  a 
Conference  of  Press  Representatives  is  to  be  held  in 
San  Salvador,  which  is  expected  to  be  attended  with 
considerable  success,  and  even  far-reaching  conse- 
quences. 


CHAPTER  XIV 

Mining — Ancient  workings— Precious  metals  found — Copper  deposits — 
Iron  ores — Treatment  of  ores  in  England — Difficulties  of  transport — 
Some  deceased  authorities — Mines  in  operation — Butters'  Salvador 
mines — History  of  undertaking — Large  profits  earned — Directorial 
policy  —  Machinery  and  equipment — Butters'  Divisadero  Mines  — 
Butters'  cyaniding  plant. 

TRADITION  points  to  the  fact  that  the  whole  of  the 
Central  American  States  were  more  or  less  mineralized, 
while  some  of  them,  such  as  Honduras  and  Salvador, 
have  long  been  known  to  contain  great  mineral  wealth. 
The  geological  conditions  of  Salvador,  as  may  be 
inferred  from  the  physical  facts  which  have  already 
been  set  forth  in  these  pages,  show  that  precious 
metals  have  been  found  in  some  of  the  Departments. 
There  are  on  record  considerable  operations  in  connec- 
tion with  the  different  Salvador  mines  of  Tabanco, 
Sociedad,  and  others  in  their  immediate  vicinity  and 
lying  in  the  north-eastern  part  of  the  Department  of 
San  Miguel,  on  the  confines  of  Honduras. 

These  mines  have  been  extensively  worked,  and 
have  in  their  time  yielded  very  profitable  results. 
About  six  miles  distant  from  Tabanco  are  the  gold- 
mines of  Capitalis,  once  believed  to  be  of  great  rich- 
ness, and  the  group  of  silver-mines  known  under  the 
name  of  Minas  de  Tabanco,  and  where  is  found  silver 
in  common  with  galena  and  sulphurate  of  zinc.  In 
times  past  these  mines  have  been  worked  with  very 

181 


182    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

little  difficulty,  and  they  have  yielded  from  as  little  as 
47  to  as  much  as  2,537  ounces  to  the  ton.  The  most 
famous  producer  among  these  was  the  Santa  Rosalia, 
and  a  great  part  of  these  ores  were  formerly  shipped 
direct  to  England.  Old  archives  of  this  concern  show 
that  in  the  year  1830  an  attempt  was  made  to  work 
the  mines  on  a  large  scale  by  an  English  company, 
which  sent  out  a  whole  corps  of  Cornish  miners  for  the 
purpose.  The  machinery  which  was  despatched  at  the 
same  time  was  so  heavy,  however,  that  it  was  found 
impossible  to  transport  it  from  the  coast,  which  diffi- 
culty, combined  with  others,  entirely  broke  up  the 
enterprise.  Had  the  organizers  of  the  company,  as  a 
preliminary,  constructed  a  good  cart-road,  which  was 
quite  possible,  and  had  then  sent  out  the  machinery  in 
parts,  which  could  have  been  packed  separately  on 
mule-back,  as  is  done  in  Colombia  and  other  mountain- 
ous countries,  the  undertaking  might  never  have  been 
a  failure. 

That  mining  paid,  and  paid  well,  in  Salvador  in 
olden  days  is  proved  by  the  record  which  has  been  left 
by  Mr.  R.  C.  Dunlop,  in  his  "  Travels  in  Central 
America."  This  writer  tells  us  that  "five  leagues 
north  of  San  Miguel  are  a  number  of  mines  of  silver  ; 
among  them  is  one  called  La  Carolina,  which  was 
worked  by  a  Spanish  empresario  about  thirty  years  ago 
[Dunlop's  book  was  published  in  1847].  He  invested 
his  own  property,  borrowed  $100,000  and,  after  getting 
his  mine  into  order  in  less  than  six  months,  was  able  to 
pay  his  obligations ;  and  although  he  died  before  the 
end  of  the  year,  he  left  $70,000  in  gold  and  silver,  the 
produce  of  the  mine.  After  his  death  the  ownership 
was  disputed,  the  works  fell  into  ruins,  and  the  mine 
became  filled  with  water.  The  mines  of  Tabanco 


MINING  183 

yield  more  silver  than  those  in  its  vicinity,  and  when 
worked  yielded  upwards  of  $1,000,000  annually, 
although  operated  in  a  rude  manner  without  machinery. 
The  principal  one  yielded  $200,000  annually  to  the 
proprietors." 

I  fear  that  the  late  Mr.  Dunlop  somewhat  exag- 
gerated the  value  of  these  mines ;  for  while  I  was  in 
the  country,  and  in  the  particular  district  referred  to 
by  the  author,  no  one  seemed  to  have  any  recollection 
of  any  such  values  having  ever  been  obtained. 

The  same  doubtful  authority  is  responsible  for  the 
statement  that  "nine  leagues  from  Santa  Ana  are  some 
rich  mines  of  iron  which  produce  a  purer  and  more 
malleable  metal  than  any  imported  from  Europe.  The 
ore  is  found  near  the  surface,  and  is  very  abundant, 
while  there  are  extensive  forests  in  the  immediate 
vicinity  which  serve  for  making  charcoal."  Another 
authority  on  Salvador,  long  since  gathered  to  his 
fathers — viz,,  John  Baily,  KM. — who  published  a  book 
upon  Central  America  in  1850,  assures  us  that  some  of 
this  iron  which  was  sent  to  England  for  the  purpose  of 
examination  proved  to  be  "a  very  valuable  variety 
suitable  for  the  manufacture  of  fine  steel,  approaching 
very  nearly  in  this  respect  to  the  celebrated  Wootz  of 
India." 

The  mineral  veins  of  Salvador  present  themselves 
principally  in  the  rocks  of  the  mountain  chain,  or 
Cordillera,  which  extends  into  Honduras  and  Nicar- 
agua, and  forms  the  richest  mining  districts  of  those 
countries.  Generally  speaking,  the  veins  run  parallel 
with  the  direction  of  the  ranges — that  is,  from  east  to 
west — but  they  are  often  found  to  be  very  much  broken 
and  interrupted  by  the  action  of  upheaval.  In  the 
eastern  parts  of  the  Republic,  deposits  of  gold,  silver, 


184    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

copper,  and  lead  are  found,  while  in  the  western  are 
the  rich  iron-ore  deposits.  Coal  is  found  in  the  valley 
of  the  River  Lempa.  Although  it  is  rather  difficult  to 
obtain  full  and  accurate  returns  of  all  the  mines  in 
operation  in  Salvador  to-day,  roughly  speaking  they 
may  be  put  at  between  180  and  200.  The  table  on 
p.  185,  which  has  been  compiled  by  the  head  of  the 
Salvadorean  Bureau  of  Statistics,  and  which  shows  the 
number  of  mines  of  each  Department  and  the  minerals 
which  they  possess,  will  be  of  some  interest. 

The  labour  question  is,  however,  one  which  must  be 
carefully  gone  into  ;  but  here  again  the  local  (State) 
Government  could,  and  no  doubt  would,  help  the 
enterprise  considerably,  for  so  closely  are  the  author- 
ities in  touch  with  the  people  that  they  can  at  most 
times  influence  a  good  and  continuous  flow  of  peon 
labour  when  their  assistance  is  invoked.  General 
shortage  of  labour  has  been  responsible  for  a  great 
number  of  the  mining  returns  not  being  satisfactory 
of  late,  especially  in  connection  with  the  Butters'  Sal- 
vador Mines,  of  which  fuller  details  are  given. 

The  Salvadorean  peon,  like  his  Peruvian  brother,  is  a 
very  tractable  kind  of  labourer,  and  can  be  success- 
fully handled  by  kind  treatment.  He  is,  moreover, 
naturally  free  from  that  taint  of  dishonesty  which  so 
strongly  distinguishes  the  Mexican  and  the  Colombian 
peon}  and  which  renders  it  impossible  to  leave  anything 
of  a  portable  nature  in  their  way.  The  native  labourer 
of  Salvador  is  usually  able  to  earn  an  easy  livelihood 
by  means  of  husbandry,  and  he  takes  to  mining  from 
choice  rather  than  from  necessity.  This  fact  renders 
it  all  the  more  important  that  fair  treatment  should 
be  extended  to  him,  and  upon  most  of  the  foreign- 
owned  mines  this  is  certainly  the  case.  The  late 


MINING 


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186    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 


manager  of  the  Butters'  Salvador  Mines,  Mr.  Garth- 
waite,  whose  death  occurred  last  year,  was  entirely 
sympatico  to  the  men  employed  upon  the  mines,  and 
his  kindness  to  them  and  to  their  families  was  gener- 
ally acknowledged  and  deeply  appreciated. 

That  the  industry  of  mining  has  considerably  im- 
proved in  Salvador  during  the  past  decade  is  sufficiently 
evidenced  by  the  subjoined  figures,  which  trace  the 
industry  in  its  progress  from  January,  1901,  to  the 
first  half  of  the  year  1910  : 

Total  Amount  of  Trade 
(U.S.  Gold  $). 


Period  covered. 


Year  1901 
„  1902 
„  1903 
„  1904 
„  1905 
„  1906 
„  1907 
„  1908 
1909 


1910  (half 


year) 


$183,760.00. 

114,585.20. 

814,733.88. 

652,854.33. 

768,677.60. 
1,296,666.00. 
1,223,565.00. 
1,318,224.00. 
1,116,717.00. 

560,570.00. 


These  figures  refer  to  all  the  auriferous  silver,  copper 
ore,  gold  bars,  gold  and  silver  ore,  lead  ore,  gold  slimes, 
gold  and  copper  slimes,  gold  and  silver  slimes,  and  lead, 
which  had  been  mined  in  the  country  during  the 
period  mentioned. 

I  should  say  that  modest  fortunes  await  the  enter- 
prising capitalist — foreign  for  choice,  since  as  a  rule 
he  is  less  easily  discouraged  by  a  run  of  temporary 
ill-luck — who  exploits  some  of  the  antiguas — i.e.,  the 
ancient  copper  workings  of  the  Salvadoreans  which 
have  been  abandoned  owing  to  lack  of  capital  or 
labour.  I  know  of  many  such  opportunities  which 
exist  in  the  Department  of  Morazan,  where  already 
a  considerable  group  of  foreign  companies  and  private 
individuals  are  working  with  occasionally  remarkable 
success.  With  the  modern  machinery  and  reduction 


BUTTERS1  SALVADOR  MINES  187 

plant  now  available,  certainly  the  greater  part  of  these 
ancient  workings  might  be  made  to  pay  something  as 
a  return  upon  the  amount  of  capital  expended  upon 
them.  To-day,  also,  there  exists  a  first-class  cart- 
road  leading  from  these  mines  to  the  principal  town, 
and  thus  transportation,  which  was  formerly  both 
costly  and  difficult,  is  now  a  matter  of  comparative 
facility. 

In  some  of  the  iron  ore  mines  one  can  find  the  old 
and  wasteful  Catalan  system  of  reduction  still  in  use, 
and  yet  with  proper  treatment,  as  was  sufficiently 
proved  when  a  trial  shipment  of  ores  was  sent  to 
England  some  years  ago,  as  much  as  87  per  cent,  of 
magnetic  iron  can  be  obtained  from  these  ores.  And 
the  quantity  of  ore  which  they  contain  is  apparently 
inexhaustible.  I  know  of  but  two  or  three  small 
smelters  at  present  existing  in  Salvador,  and,  natur- 
ally, the  industry  of  copper-smelting  carried  on  in  this 
primitive  and  limited  manner  proves  anything  but 
profitable.  I  am  of  opinion  that  the  Government 
would  encourage  any  serious  attempt  upon  the  part 
of  foreign  capitalists  to  exploit  the  unquestionably 
rich  copper  deposits  of  the  Departments  of  Chalate- 
nango  and  Cabanas,  and  such  an  enterprise  might 
well  be  worth  the  attention  of  some  British  or  United 
States  mining  capitalists.  The  latter  are  usually  the 
more  enterprising  and  plucky. 

About  twelve  years  ago  there  was  registered  in 
London  a  mining  property  covering  546  acres  in 
Salvador,  comprising  a  number  of  gold-bearing  proper- 
ties, with  the  title  of  Butters'  Salvador  Mines,  Ltd., 
the  principal  owner  being  Mr.  Charles  Butters,  a  well- 
known  American  engineer,  and  who  is  the  chairman  of 
the  company.  From  the  very  commencement  of  its 


188    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

operations,  the  company  seems  to  have  been  eminently 
successful,  and  was  able  to  distribute  its  first  dividend 
in  1903,  when  5  per  cent,  was  paid.  Since  that 
date  the  dividends  have  varied  from  40  to  80  per 
cent.,  that  for  1910  being  at  the  rate  of  45  per  cent., 
which  compared  with  a  similar  rate  for  the  previous 
year,  but  with  an  additional  bonus  of  23f  per  cent.  On 
account  of  the  present  year,  15  per  cent,  has  already 
been  paid  as  an  interim  dividend,  and,  according  to  the 
recently-issued  report,  the  ore  reserves  are  now 
estimated  to  amount  to  108,000  tons,  and  to  carry  a 
profit  value  of  £400,000,  or  more  than  twice  the  value 
of  the  entire  share  capital. 

At  the  end  of  last  May,  dividend  "  No.  87  "  of  3|  per 
cent.  (=  9d.  per  share)  was  declared  by  the  Board  of 
Directors,  who  at  the  same  time  informed  the  share- 
holders that  dividends  will  in  the  future  be  distributed 
quarterly  instead  of  monthly,  as  has  been  customary  in 
the  past. 

The  inherent  wealth  of  these  mines  is  clearly  demon- 
strated when  one  recollects  that,  in  spite  of  the  able 
and  experienced  management  that  has  been  the  rule, 
many  difficulties  have  had  to  be  encountered  and  over- 
come, not  the  least  of  which  has  been  the  lack  of 
labour,  and,  during  the  early  part  of  last  year,  some 
serious  trouble  with  the  boilers  at  the  mines.  The 
consistently  cautious  policy  which  the  directorate  have 
adopted,  notwithstanding  the  large  dividends  which 
they  have  been  able  to  recommend,  has  resulted  in 
their  establishing  the  mines  upon  a  thoroughly  solid 
and  business-like  basis.  It  is  worth  remarking  here 
that  the  whole  of  the  existing  plant  and  equipment, 
which  are  as  complete  and  efficient  as  any  to  be  found 
upon  the  American  Continent,  have  been  paid  for  out 


VIEW  OF  BUTTERS'  DIVISADERO  MINES,  DEPARTMENT  OF  MORAZAN, 
SALVADOR. 


2.  BUTTERS'  SALVADOR  MINES,  SANTA  ROSA,  DEPARTMENT  OF  I  A  UNION, 

SALVADOR. 


BUTTERS1  SALVADOR  MINES  189 

of  revenue,  and  they  stand  in  the  books  of  the  company 
at  the  present  time  at  the  ridiculously  low  price  of 
£2,000. 

The  principal  work  which  the  management  has  in 
hand  at  the  present  time  is  cross-cutting  the  formation, 
with  the  object  of  finding  split  or  parallel  veins,  and 
the  discovery  of  such  split  veins  has  naturally  much 
improved  the  position  of  the  company.  The  whole 
policy  of  the  management  will  now  be  devoted,  for 
some  years  to  come,  to  proving  the  mines  in  depth,  and 
such,  indeed,  would  have  been  undertaken  before  now 
but  for  the  troubles  to  which  I  have  above  referred  in 
regard  to  labour.  The  ore  indications,  which  have  so 
far  been  met  with,  are  of  a  distinctly  favourable  nature, 
the  most  encouraging,  perhaps,  being  the  cutting  of  the 
famous  Miguel  ore-shoot  at  the  700  feet  level.  The 
width  of  this  vein  exceeds  3  feet,  and  it  assays  over 
6  ounces.  The  Miguel  shaft  is  now  down  nearly 
800  feet,  but  the  deepest  working  from  which  the  ore 
has  been  stoped  is  the  600  feet  level ;  the  shaft  will 
therefore  give  200  feet  of  backs  below  the  present 
workings. 

At  present  between  25,000  and  30,000  tons  of  ore 
are  being  crushed  annually,  which  yield  on  the  average 
a  value  of  1  ounce  7  pennyweights.  The  working 
expenses  have  never  been  particularly  high,  owing 
greatly  to  the  excellence  of  management  and  the 
economy  of  the  reduction  plant,  which  bears  the  name 
of  the  chairman  of  the  company — viz.,  the  Butters' 
Cyanide  Process — but  there  are  nevertheless  hopes 
that  these  costs  will  be  still  further  reduced  in  the 
near  future.  There  is  no  question  that  the  Butters' 
Salvador  Mines  rank  among  the  most  valuable  ore 
deposits  to  be  found  in  Central  America,  and  it  is  no 


190    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

less  sure  that  they  are  being  managed  in  the  most 
expert  and  most  economical  manner. 

As  to  the  financial  situation  of  the  company,  the 
balance-sheet  proves  that  the  cash  in  hand  on  June  30, 
1910,  in  Salvador,  London,  and  San  Francisco,  amounted 
to  £5,001,  and  that  on  the  same  date  the  stores  in 
hand  and  in  transit  were  valued  at  £32,228  ;  sundry 
debtors  in  Salvador  and  London  amounted  to  £812, 
and  per  contra  the  amount  owing  to  sundry  creditors 
was  £3,642.  The  profit  and  loss  account  showed  a 
net  profit  for  the  period  of  £62,645  ;  while  the  amount 
brought  forward  from  the  previous  account,  and  which 
amounted  to  £19,042,  being  added  to  the  net  profit, 
showed  a  total  available  distributable  balance  of 
£81,677.  The  dividends  which  have  been  paid  for 
the  twelve  months  aggregated,  as  already  mentioned, 
45  per  cent,  upon  the  capital  of  the  company,  and 
which  absorbed  £67,500,  thus  leaving  a  carry-forward 
of  £14,177. 

It  is  worthy  of  mention  that  in  the  directors'  report 
for  the  period  ending  June  30,  1910,  a  graceful  tribute 
is  paid  to  "the  continued  consideration  which  the 
Government  of  Salvador  has  extended  to  the  com- 
pany," and  which  testimony  goes  to  prove  what  I 
have  already  indicated — viz.,  that  the  Government  is 
anxious  and  willing  to  encourage  in  every  legitimate 
manner  sound  foreign  enterprise  ;  but  I  go  further,  and 
say  that  I  know  of  no  other  Latin- American  Republic 
which  has  shown  greater  good-will  to  all  foreign  enter- 
prise in  all  its  phases  than  that  of  Salvador. 

It  is  over  seven  years  since  the  Butters'  filter  was 
introduced  in  connection  with  mining,  and  the  process 
may  now  be  met  with  in  all  parts  of  the  world,  and 
especially  in  Mexico,  where  I  have  seen  it  working 


BUTTERS1  FILTER  191 

with  excellent  advantage  upon  the  famous  Dos  Estrellas 
gold-mine  at  El  Oro,  as  well  as  in  Brazil  and  in  other 
South  American  countries. 

The  need  of  a  filter  of  some  sort  was  first  forcibly 
presented  to  the  mind  of  Mr.  Charles  Butters  and  his 
associates  at  their  works  in  Virginia  City,  Nevada, 
U.S.A.  The  tailing  being  cyanided  there  was  origin- 
ally derived  from  the  Comstock  Mills,  but  it  had  been 
treated  and  retreated  several  times  by  the  Pan- Amal- 
gamation process  ;  as  it  stands  to-day  in  the  dams,  it 
contains  about  75  per  cent,  of  material  that  is  leachable, 
and  which  may  be  designated  as  "  slime."  The  slime 
is  of  an  exceptional  character.  In  addition  to  the  diffi- 
culties connected  with  the  solution  of  gold  and  silver 
contents,  the  mechanical  condition  was  such  that  it 
gave  trouble  in  settlement  for  decantation.  The  clari- 
fication produced  by  a  coagulant  such  as  lime  was 
perfect,  but  the  subsidence  was  so  slow  that  the 
amount  of  solution  recoverable  in  this  way  was  not 
sufficient  to  make  the  decantation  process  a  practical 
success.  It  was  proved,  in  fact,  that  coagulation  was 
not  necessarily  accompanied  by  good  settlement. 

After  experimenting  with  several  forms  of  vacuum 
filter  units,  both  cylindrical  and  rectangular,  there  was 
evolved  a  form  of  filter  which  is  the  recognized  present 
standard,  and  the  preliminary  plant  of  336  leaves, 
which  was  erected  at  Goldfield  seven  years  ago,  is 
still  in  full  operation  to-day.  As  the  filtration  process 
is  found  working  at  the  Salvador  mines  and  in  other 
parts  of  the  world,  the  filter-leaf  is  made  on  a  frame, 
the  upper  side  of  which  is  formed  on  wood,  and  acts 
as  a  suspending  bar  when  the  leaf  is  in  position  in 
the  filter-box.  The  remaining  three  sides  are  made 
of  13 -inch  pipe,  perforated  with  holes  and  connecting 


192    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

to  the  vacuum  pump.  The  filtering  medium  consists 
firstly  of  a  porous  mat  of  such  size  as  to  exactly  fill 
the  space  formed  by  the  pipe  frame,  and  upon  either 
side  of  this  is  placed  a  sheet  of  canvas,  large  enough 
to  overlap  the  frame,  around  which  it  is  securely  sewn. 
The  first  containing-box  which  was  used  at  Virginia 
City  was  an  electrolytic  precipitation-box,  which  was 
not  needed  for  its  special  purpose,  and  was  adopted 
for  the  use  of  the  new  filter.  An  air-compressor  was 
converted  into  a  vacuum  pump,  and  with  this  equip- 
ment the  vacuum  filter  of  to-day  came  into  existence. 

From  the  beginning  it  proved  a  marked  success,  and 
the  next  step  in  its  perfection  was  the  designing  of  the 
large  Goldfield  plant  to  handle  800  tons  of  dry  slime 
per  diem.  When  designing  the  containing-box  for  the 
special  purpose  of  the  filter,  the  lines  of  the  original  box 
were  slightly  departed  from  as  regards  the  shape  of  the 
hoppers,  these  being  given  sixty  sides  to  facilitate  the 
better  discharge  of  the  cake,  and  a  quick  opening  valve 
of  large  area  was  placed  at  the  apex  of  each  hopper. 
Instead  of  a  dry  vacuum  pump  and  gravity  drainage,  a 
wet  vacuum  pump  was  used,  permitting  the  solution 
pump  to  be  placed  above  the  filter. 

The  cycle  of  operation  is  as  follows  :  (1)  Filling  the 
box  with  pulp  ;  (2)  the  formation  of  a  cake  on  each 
side  of  the  vacuum  leaves  by  suction ;  (3)  emptying 
the  box  of  pulp  and  filling  with  weak  solution ; 
(4)  drawing  through  the  cake  sufficient  solution  to 
displace  all  soluble  values;  (5)  emptying  the  box  of 
solution  and  filling  with  water  ;  (6)  drawing  through 
the  cake  a  small  quantity  of  clean  water  to  displace 
any  solution  held  in  the  cake ;  (7)  shutting  off  the 
vacuum  and  admitting  water  through  the  leaf  connec- 
tion, thereby  throwing  off  the  cake,  which  falls  to  the 


BUTTERS1  FILTER  193 

bottom  of  the  box,  and  cleansing  the  canvas  in  pre- 
paration for  the  next  charge ;  (8)  opening  the  valve  in 
hopper  bottom  of  box,  and  allowing  the  residues  to 
escape  to  the  waste  dam  ;  (9)  closing  the  valve,  thus 
rendering  the  filter  ready  for  the  next  charge  of  pulp. 

It  is  a  very  unusual  thing  to  find  in  the  newer 
mining  companies  of  Central  America  such  up-to-date 
machinery  and  mining  processes  as  are  in  use  in  the 
Republic  of  Salvador  at  the  Butters'  Salvador  and  the 
Divisadero  Mines.  The  Government  of  Salvador  has 
to  be  congratulated  upon  the  wisdom  it  has  shown  in 
extending  consideration  to  companies  engaged  in  the 
development  of  its  mines,  and  to  practical  men  of  the 
type  of  Mr.  Charles  Butters  and  his  associates,  to 
induce  them  to  devote  their  money  and  their  brains  to 
the  development  of  Salvador.  The  most  modern  pro- 
cesses and  the  most  up-to-date  machinery  can  be  here 
found  at  work,  and  the  Government  is  permitted,  by  the 
terms  of  the  franchise  which  they  have  granted  to  the 
companies,  to  send  Government  students  to  attend  at 
these  works  to  complete  their  studies  in  mining  and 
metallurgy.  Among  the  processes  at  Butters'  Salvador 
Mines  are  dry-crushing  and  roasting,  electrolytic  pre- 
cipitation as  well  as  electrolytic  refining.  The  cyanide 
process  with  the  Butters'  Patent  Vacuum  Filter  is  found 
here  treating  gold  ore  without  amalgamation,  and 
making  extraction  of  from  95  to  96  per  cent.  The 
mining  at  this  property  has  been  by  adits  princi- 
pally. Electrical  winding  plants  and  electrical  pump- 
ing plants  are  now  installed  at  this  property.  Both  at 
the  mine  and  at  the  mill  a  high  efficiency  of  working 
has  been  attained  for  many  years. 

At  the  Butters'  Divisadero  Mines,  located  twelve 
miles  distant  from  the  Butters'  Salvador  Mines,  a 

13 


194    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

much  larger  quantity  of  ore,  but  of  a  lower  grade 
than  at  the  Salvador  Mine,  is  treated,  about  10,000 
tons  a  month  being  handled  on  this  property.  The 
Government  student  has  here  the  privilege  of  seeing 
ore,  of  about  $5  a  ton,  mined  and  milled.  A  large 
electric  plant  is  established,  by  means  of  which  all  the 
hoisting  and  pumping  are  carried  on.  A  large  quantity 
of  water  is  encountered  at  this  mine,  and  where 
formerly  it  was  found  impossible  to  handle  the  water 
by  the  use  of  Cornish  pumps,  it  is  now  kept  under 
control  by  means  of  the  Sulzer  electrically-driven 
centrifugal  pump.  Two  sinking  pumps,  of  a  capacity 
of  600  gallons  per  minute  each,  have  been  installed, 
which  are  suspended  from  the  surface,  and  are  calcu- 
lated to  operate  down  to  600  feet  in  depth.  These 
pumps  lift  300  feet  to  the  300  feet  level,  and  deliver 
to  horizontal  station-pumps  erected  at  this  level.  The 
most  modern  electric-generating  plant,  hoisting,  pump- 
ing, and  ore-compressing  plants,  are  at  work  upon  this 
property.  The  mill  is  of  the  best-class  construction, 
with  a  capacity  of  crushing  between  8  and  9  tons 
per  stamp,  with  tube-mills,  Butters'  Patent  Vacuum 
Filter,  and  special  methods  of  precipitation. 

At  both  of  these  mines  complete  shops  are  estab- 
lished, including  iron-foundry  and  wood -working 
machinery.  The  shops  are  competent  to  deal  with 
the  heaviest  repair  jobs  on  the  machinery  in  use,  and 
as  many  spares  as  are  found  economical  to  manufac- 
ture, so  that  a  large  staff  of  mechanics  are  kept  busy 
in  the  shops. 

In  a  new  country  like  Salvador,  it  is  absolutely 
essential,  for  the  establishing  of  the  mining  industry 
upon  a  firm  footing,  that  a  large  force  of  natives 
should  be  educated  in  the  repair  and  manufacture  of 


SALVADOREAN  MECHANICS  195 

the  machinery  and  extra  parts  in  use  at  the  mines. 
There  are  native  Salvadoreans  who  have  been  educated 
in  these  shops,  and  they  have  become  highly  competent 
mechanics,  able  to  cope  with  almost  any  difficulty 
occurring  at  the  mines.  The  result  of  this  education 
will  be  that  less  and  less  foreign  help  will  be  required 
to  carry  on  the  business  in  Salvador. 

Anyone  living  in  Salvador  who  desires  to  know  of  the 
1  'latest  thing  "  in  mining  and  metallurgy  is  permitted, 
through  the  arrangements  which  the  Salvadorean 
Government  has  made  with  Mr.  Charles  Butters,  to 
take  up  any  course  of  study  he  may  desire. 


CHAPTER  XV 

Transportation  —  Salvador  Kailway  Company  —  Early  construction — 
Gauge — Bridges — Locomotives — Rolling-stock — Personnel  of  railway 
— Steamship  service — Extensions — Increasing  popularity — Exchange, 
and  influence  on  railway  success  —  Importers  versus  planters  — 
Financial  conditions  —  Projected  extensions  —  Geological  survey  — 
Mr.  Minor  C.  Keith's  Salvador  concession. 

THE  means  of  internal  communication  are  perhaps 
more  apparent  and  more  systematically  undertaken 
than  in  any  of  the  smaller  States,  Salvador  possessing 
at  present  over  100  miles  of  railway  track  and  a 
number  of  excellent  roads  and  bridges,  which  are 
being  added  to  and  improved  continually.  The  only 
organized  railway  system  at  present  is  in  the  hands 
of  a  British  company,  the  Salvador  Railway  Company, 
Ltd,  and  its  relations  with  both  the  Government  and 
the  public  are  of  the  best. 

The  concession  granted  to  the  company  was  dated 
1885,  but  it  was  four  years  later  when  a  public  issue 
was  made — namely,  in  October,  1889.  The  conces- 
sion is  for  a  period  of  eighty  years,  dating  from  April, 
1894  ;  at  the  expiration  of  the  period  the  railway  and 
all  its  accessories  become  the  property  of  the  Salva- 
dorean Government.  In  the  meantime,  however,  it  is 
open  to  the  Government  to  buy  up  the  existing  railway 
in  1940  if  it  so  desires,  at  a  price  to  be  agreed  upon  or 
fixed  by  valuation.  The  railway  company  enjoys 
protection  from  competition,  and  has  also  preferential 

196 


SALVADOR  RAILWAY  COMPANY  197 

privileges  (except  as  against  the  State)  for  constructing 
future  extensions. 

The  road  actually  dates  from  the  year  1882,  when 
the  first  section,  from  the  port  of  Acajutla  to  the  town 
of  Sonsonate,  one  of  the  most  important  in  the  Republic, 
and  situated  at  about  fifty  miles'  distance  from  the 
capital,  was  opened  for  traffic.  The  distance  was 
20  kilometres,  or,  say,  12^-  miles,  the  next  section  to* 
be  finished  being  that  from  Sonsonate  to  Armenia, 
a  further  distance  of  26^  kilometres,  or  16^  miles, 
thus  bringing  up  the  constructed  line  to  46^  kilo- 
metres by  the  end  of  September,  1884. 

From  then  onwards  the  rate  of  construction  was  as 
follows  :  From  Armenia  to  Amate  Marin,  6j  kilo- 
metres, or  4  miles,  opened  for  traffic  September, 
1886;  from  Amate  Marin  to  Ateos,  3j  kilometres,  or 
2  miles,  January,  1887  ;  from  Ateos  to  La  Ceiba,  and 
which  forms  a  branch  ending  at  this  town,  a  distance 
of  10  kilometres,  or  6J  miles,  March,  1890  ;  from 
Ateos  to  La  Joya,  a  distance  of  22  kilometres,  or 
13^  miles,  opened  to  traffic  on  September  15,  1895  ; 
and  from  La  Joya  to  Santa  Ana — a  very  important 
town  of  some  33,000  inhabitants — a  distance  of  29 
kilometres,  or  18  miles,  opened  in  November,  1896. 

From  Santa  Ana,  which  is  another  terminal  point, 
the  railway  receives  a  valuable  freight  in  the  form  of 
agricultural  produce,  such  as  coffee,  sugar,  tobacco, 
and  various  kinds  of  grain. 

A  continuation  of  the  line  was  then  made  to  the 
capital,  San  Salvador,  the  extension  from  Sitio-del- 
Nino  to  Nejapa,  one  of  18  kilometres,  or,  say,  11  miles, 
being  opened  for  traffic  in  February,  1898  ;  while  the 
last  section,  between  Nejapa  and  San  Salvador,  a 
distance  of  20  kilometres,  or  12i  miles,  was  completed 


198    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 


by  the  month  of  March,  1900.  The  total  distance  of 
the  track  is,  therefore,  155  kilometres,  or  96 J  miles, 
exclusive  of  sidings.  There  are  some  eighteen  stations, 
including  the  terminals  at  Acajutla,  Santa  Ana,  and 
San  Salvador ;  while  the  buildings,  both  here  and  at 
Sonsonate,  Sitio-del-Nino,  and  Quezaltepeque,  are  well 
built  and  efficient  structures  in  every  way. 

The  gauge  of  the  track  is  3  feet,  and  the  maximum 
gradient  one  of  3*75  per  cent.  The  minimum  curve 
radius  is  359  feet  3  inches.  The  interesting  engineer- 
ing features  of  the  line  are  many,  and  these  are  found 
for  the  most  part  upon  the  Santa  Ana  section,  between 
that  town  and  Sitio-del-Nino.  There  are  forty-one 
bridges,  consisting  of  through-truss,  plate-girder,  and 
rolled  "I"  beams.  These  run  from  20  to  14  feet 
span,  the  makers  who  have  supplied  them  including 
German,  Belgian,  British,  and  American  contractors. 
The  principal  bridges  are  as  follows  : 


Span. 

Made  by— 

At  Kilometre    78'700 

Deck-plate  gir- 

56ft. 

Aug.  Lecoq,  Hal,  Bel- 

der bridge 

gium. 

82-600 

Through  -  span 

78ft. 

Harkort,  Duisberg,  Ger- 

girder bridge 

many. 

98-500 

j)          »> 

70ft. 

San   Francisco   Bridge 

Company. 

188-700 

Through  -  deck 

140  ft. 

Atliers  de  Construction, 

girder  bridge 

A.   Lecoq,   Hal,  Bel- 

gium. 

191-700 

»          » 

140  ft. 

»»                              »J 

There  are  a  number  of  culverts,  over  sixty -six  being 
of  some  importance,  besides  several  of  minor  interest, 
of  3  feet  and  under.  The  road  is  exceedingly  well 
ballasted  from  beginning  to  end,  and  is  maintained 
in  an  altogether  efficient  manner  of  repair  and 
orderliness. 


rf 

c 

Q 


1 

u 


B    S 

ti 


ROLLING-STOCK 


199 


In  regard  to  the  rolling-stock,  this  is  equally  well 
equipped  and  maintained,  the  greatest  care  being 
taken  by  the  management  to  see  that  every  car  that 
is  sent  out  is  in  a  thoroughly  sound  state  of  repair  and 
cleanliness.  There  are  in  all  eleven  locomotives,  of 
which  the  following  details  will  be  of  interest : 


Cylinder. 

Driving 
Wheels. 

Weight. 

Diameter. 

Stroke. 

Pairs. 

Inches. 

Tons. 

1 

Prescott,  Scott  and  Co., 

12  in. 

16  in. 

2 

38 

17-50 

San  Francisco 

2 

Baldwin    Locomotive 

15  in. 

20  in. 

4 

38 

25-00 

Works,  Philadelphia 

3 

»j                 " 

15  in. 

20  in. 

4 

38 

25-00 

4 

15  in. 

20  in. 

4 

38 

25-00 

5 

Cooke,    Patterson    and 

16  in. 

20  in. 

4 

38 

30-35 

Co.,  New  Jersey 

6 

Baldwin    Locomotive 

17  in. 

20  in. 

3 

42 

36-74 

Works,  Philadelphia 

7 

»>                 » 

17  in. 

20  in. 

3 

42 

36-74 

8 

>>                 » 

17  in. 

20  in. 

3 

42 

36-74  ' 

9 

»                 »> 

16  in. 

20  in. 

3 

42 

32-40 

10 

»                 ,, 

16  in. 

20  in. 

3 

42 

32-40 

11 

JJ                                   J» 

16  in. 

20  in. 

3 

42 

32-40 

In  addition  to  the  above,  two  other  engines  of 
precisely  similar  make  have  lately  been  delivered  to 
the  Company  by  the  Baldwin  Locomotive  Works, 
Philadelphia,  U.S.A.  It  is  explained  that  the  native 
engine-drivers  are  now  accustomed  to  these  engines, 
which  are  to  be  found  in  use  upon  almost  the  whole  of 
the  South  and  Central  American  railways. 

The  rolling-stock  on  the  Salvador  Railway  is  main- 
tained in  the  same  efficient  order  as  are  the  stations 
and  permanent  way.  It  consists  of  some  twenty-three 
passenger  coaches  as  follows  :  Eight  of  first  class,  light 
but  strong  carriages,  suitable  for  a  tropical  country 
and  fitted  with  wide  seats  upholstered  in  rattan  ;  one 


200    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

second  class,  only  a  trifle  less  expensively  upholstered, 
but  in  no  wise  less  airy  or  comfortable  ;  and  four  brake 
and  luggage  vans.  Of  goods- waggons  there  are  161 — 
namely,  1  workmen's  car,  5  cattle  cars,  95  covered- 
goods  and  60  platform  cars.  These  cars  are  mostly 
the  manufacture  of  the  Lancaster  Carriage  and  Waggon 
Company,  Ltd.,  of  Lancaster,  and  the  Allison  Manufac- 
turing Company,  of  Philadelphia,  U.S.A.  The  company 
have  recently  erected  some  ten  box  waggons  at  the  well- 
fitted  railway  shops  at  Sonsonate,  where  every  appliance 
and  the  newest  equipment  of  machinery  are  to  be  found. 
The  passenger  coaches  are  also  partly  of  British  and 
partly  of  American  construction,  the  Lancaster  Carriage 
and  Waggon  Company,  Ltd.,  and  the  Harlan,  Hollings- 
worth  Company,  of  Philadelphia,  being  responsible  for 
this  part  of  the  equipment. 

In  the  month  of  April  last  a  change  took  place  in 
the  general  management  of  the  Salvador  Railway, 
when  Mr.  C.  T.  S.  Spencer,  the  newly-appointed  chief, 
proceeding  to  his  post  via  Mexico  City  and  Salina  Cruz. 
Mr.  Spencer  served  his  pupilage  with  the  London  and 
South-Western  Railway,  mainly  on  the  North  Devon 
and  Cornish  branches.  When  out  of  his  articles,  he 
accepted  an  appointment  as  District  Engineer  on  the 
Abbotsbury  Railway,  near  Dorset,  which  line  is  now  a 
part  of  the  Great  Western  Railway  system.  In  1886 
Mr.  Spencer  went  out  to  Rio  Grande  do  Sul  (Brazil),  as 
District  Engineer  on  the  Brazil  Great  Southern  Rail- 
way, and  subsequently  rose  to  the  position  of  Chief 
Constructing  Engineer.  On  this  line  he  built  the 
Ibicuy  Bridge,  which  still  ranks  as  the  largest  bridge 
in  Brazil,  being  over  a  mile  long,  with  some  70-metre 
spans  resting  on  cylinders  sunk  by  the  pneumatic 
process,  which  at  that  time  was  in  its  infancy. 


PERSONNEL  OF  RAILWAY  201 

When  the  line  was  completed,  Mr.  Spencer  surveyed 
an  extension  running  into  some  hundreds  of  kilo- 
metres, and  passing  through  the  beautiful  district  of 
Missiones. 

Mr.  Spencer,  still  a  young  man,  then  went  to 
Salvador,  and  in  1889  he  surveyed  the  La  Union-San 
Miguel  line.  This  railway  was  partly  constructed  by 
the  Government,  and  its  completion  to  San  Miguel  is 
now  being  pushed  forward.  In  1892  Mr.  Spencer 
went  to  Colombia  as  General  Manager  of  the  Antioquia 
Railway,  which  commission  he  held  until  the  Govern- 
ment attempted  to  cancel  the  concession  without  pay- 
ing any  idemnity  to  the  company.  He  afterwards 
went  to  Angola,  and  drew  up  the  plans  for  a  large  rail- 
way scheme  from  the  coast  inwards  ;  a  part  of  this  line 
has  since  been  built. 

Upon  returning  to  London,  Mr.  Spencer  accepted  the 
post  of  Consulting  Engineer  to  a  railway-constructing 
syndicate  in  the  City,  and  a  few  years  ago  he  was 
elected  to  a  seat  on  the  Board  of  the  Salvador  Railway. 
Mr.  Spencer  visited  the  Republic  in  1908,  and  on  his 
return  pointed  out  to  the  Chairman  that,  owing  to  the 
opening  of  the  Tehuantepec  Railway,  a  special  steamer 
service  connecting  up  Acajutla  with  Salina  Cruz  would 
probably  prove  a  paying  concern.  Mr.  Mark  J.  Kelly, 
the  able  and  experienced  Chairman  of  this  railway,  with 
his  customary  quickness  of  perception,  combined  with 
his  own  not  inconsiderable  experience  of  the  Republic 
of  Salvador,  of  which  for  fifteen  years  he  had  acted  as 
Consul-General  in  England,  at  once  fell  in  with  the 
idea,  and  the  steamship  Salvador  was  the  result. 

Mr.  Spencer  is  an  Associate  Member  of  the  Institute 
of  Civil  Engineers,  and  a  Fellow  of  the  Royal  Geo- 
graphical Society.  While  it  is  a  subject  of  regret  that 


202    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

Mr.  Charles  Stewart,  late  Manager  of  the  Salvador 
Railway,  was  compelled  to  abandon  his  post  owing  to 
ill-health,  the  shareholders  of  the  railway  may  be  un- 
reservedly congratulated  upon  obtaining  the  services  of 
so  able  and  experienced  an  engineer  as  Mr.  Spencer. 

Mr.  John  White  Hinds,  Chief  Engineer  of  the 
Salvador  Railway  Company,  started  in  his  profession  at 
the  age  of  fifteen,  and  was  for  over  a  year  in  the  shops 
of  the  Great  Western  Railway  at  Swindon.  He  then 
remained  for  four  years  as  a  pupil  with  Mr.  W.  H. 
Lancashire,  C.E.,  of  Sheffield.  Three  years  were 
passed  in  London  studying,  when  Mr.  Hinds  went  to 
America,  and  entered  the  shops  of  the  Chicago  and 
North-Western  Railroad.  He  has  also  seen  service  in 
Chile,  Peru,  Guatemala  and  Salvador.  In  this  latter 
Republic,  Mr.  Hinds  has  acted  as  chief  of  the  party  of 
engineers  on  final  surveys  of  the  Santa  Ana  branch  of 
the  Salvador  Railway,  while  he  also  went  to  La  Union, 
the  largest  of  the  Salvadorean  ports,  to  construct  the 
railway  from  La  Union  to  San  Miguel  for  the  Salvador 
Government.  The  line  was  only  constructed  to  the 
extent  of  ten  miles  or  so,  when  a  revolution  broke  out 
and  the  work  was  abandoned.  Since  then — namely,  in 
1894 — Mr.  Hinds  has  been  engaged  upon  the  Guate- 
mala Northern  Railway  as  Surveyor,  and  helped  in  the 
construction  of  that  portion  of  the  line  to  the  City. 
Mr.  Hinds  likewise  completed  surveys  to  the  town  of 
Zacapa,  on  the  same  railway,  and  assisted  in  the  con- 
struction work  between  Puerto  Barrios  and  Zacapa. 
Latterly  Mr.  Hinds  has  been  exclusively  engaged  upon 
the  Salvador  Railway,  of  which  he  has  been  the 
Resident  Engineer  since  1903,  and  Permanent  Way 
Engineer  since  1906. 

One  of  the  contractors  who  were  connected  with  the 


PERSONNEL  OF  RAILWAY  203 

railway  in  the  early  days  was  Mr.  Albert  J.  Scherzer, 
and  it  is  interesting  to  note  that  his  nephew,  Mr.  George 
Scherzer  Walsh,  a  young  and  clever  railway  engineer, 
was  also  connected  with  the  company.  Mr.  Walsh 
accompanied  Mr.  M.  J.  Kelly  and  Mr.  George  Todd 
Symons  (the  senior  partner  of  G.  T.  Symons  and  Co., 
of  4,  Lloyd's  Avenue,  E.G.)  to  Salvador  in  the  spring 
of  1910,  upon  matters  relating  to  the  extension  of  the 
company's  track  and  the  appointment  of  agents  for  the 
steamship  service.  Mr.  Walsh  did  some  good  and  use- 
ful work  as  technical  adviser  on  the  ground,  but,  unfor- 
tunately, in  the  end  his  services  proved  unfruitful, 
owing  to  the  selfish  and  senseless  opposition  offered  to 
the  company's  contemplated  extensions  upon  the  part 
of  the  American  Syndicate,  who  hold  a  railway  con- 
cession from  the  Salvadorean  Government  to  build  new 
lines  within  this  zone.  At  the  time  that  the  American 
group  protested — and  protested,  as  it  seems,  success- 
fully— against  any  further  construction  work  being 
undertaken  by  the  Salvador  Railway  Company,  they 
had  done  absolutely  nothing  themselves,  and  had 
not  even  presented  the  preliminary  plans  to  the 
Government.  As  will  be  seen,  however,  they  have 
at  last  made  an  attempt  to  commence  work  of  some 
kind  ;  but  my  latest  advices  point  to  the  fact  that  suc- 
cessful completion  is  still  far  from  being  even  within 
sight. 

The  property  owned  by  the  Salvador  Railway  Com- 
pany, as  has  been  shown  above,  is  an  extensive  and 
increasingly  valuable  one.  It  embraces  something  like 
100  miles  of  track,  with  its  own  telegraph  and 
telephone  services  ;  a  long  and  well-built  iron  pier, 
located  at  the  Port  of  Acajutla,  and  which  cost  no  less 
than  $1,000,000  to  erect ;  as  well  as  warehouses  and 


204    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

a  fleet  of  tugs  and  barges  for  the  prompt  and  efficient 
handling  of  the  cargo. 

Upon  all  sides  one  hears  the  services  rendered  by 
this  company  spoken  of  in  a  manner  altogether  flatter- 
ing to  the  management ;  and  it  may  be  said  in  truth 
that  in  no  other  Republic  of  South  or  Central  America 
can  one  come  across  a  wider  consensus  of  opinion 
favourable  to  a  foreign- managed  railway  undertaking 
than  in  the  case  of  the  Salvador  Railway. 

To  the  not  inconsiderable  assets  above  mentioned, 
the  railway  has  added  a  fleet  of  steamships  to  carry 
cargo  between  Acajutla,  its  own  port  terminal,  and 
Salina  Cruz  (Mexico),  the  Pacific  terminus  of  the 
Tehuantepec  Interoceanic  Railway.  It  is  worthy 
of  note  that  both  of  these  railways  are  managed  by 
British  corporations,  a  matter  of  no  small  importance 
in  view  of  the  strenuous  efforts  of  North  American 
interests  to  secure  complete  control  over  the  transport 
arrangements  in  this  part  of  the  world. 

The  Salvador  Railway's  first  steamer,  the  Salvador, 
is  a  neat,  trim,  and  well-built  vessel  of  some  1,200 
tons,  out  of  the  yards  of  Messrs.  Swan  and  Hunter,  of 
Newcastle-on-Tyne.  It  is  fully  equipped  with  all  the 
latest  appliances  for  the  quick  and  efficient  handling 
of  cargo,  while  its  passenger  accommodation  is  of  a 
commodious  and  comfortable  character.  This  hand- 
some vessel  has  for  some  time  been  firmly  established 
as  a  favourite  with  the  importers  and  exporters  of  the 
Republic  of  Salvador,  who  now,  for  the  first  time  in 
their  experience,  are  enjoying  the  advantages  of  rapid 
and  reliable  communication  with  Europe  and  the 
United  States  of  America,  with  punctuality  in  regard 
to  dates  of  arrival  and  departure  each  week.  As  a 
matter  of  fact,  this  service  now  effects  in  about  two 


STEAMSHIP  SERVICE  205 

weeks^what  could  not  be  previously  done  in  less  than 
one  month.  The  appreciation  by  the  public  of  these 
advantages  is  sufficiently  displayed  in  the  circumstance 
that  the  s.s.  Salvador  carries  something  like  three- 
fourths  of  the  imports  and  exports  of  the  country,  to 
the  great  disappointment,  and  even  dismay,  of  the  older 
lines.  Other  similar  vessels  are  being  built  for  the 
Company  by  Messrs.  Swan  and  Hunter. 

The  company  has  in  view  the  rendering  the  same 
services  to  the  other  Salvadorean  ports  as  that  now 
offered  to  Acajutla  and  the  Mexican  port  of  Salina 
Cruz.  An  important  local  trade  between  Mexico  and 
Salvador,  to  the  mutual  advantages  of  both,  is  now 
being  built  up,  thanks  to  the  initiative  of  the  Salvador 
Railway  Company  in  establishing  this  steamship 
service. 

How  successful  the  company's  fleet  has  proved  is 
best  seen  from  some  observations  which  were  made  by 
the  Chairman  at  the  last  annual  meeting  of  the  pro- 
prietors, December  13,  1910,  and  in  which  he  stated, 
inter  alia  : 

"  It  is  a  matter  of  great  satisfaction  to  me  and  to  my  co- 
directors  to  be  able  to  assure  you  that  we  have  not  only 
emerged,  in  respect  to  this  service,  out  of  the  experimental 
stage,  but  we  have  actually  become  a  fairly  settled  institution 
as  a  steamship  line  on  that  coast.  Instead  of  one  boat,  with 
which  last  year  we  gave  such  a  service  to  Salvador  by  the 
port  of  Acajutla  as  they  had  never  had  before,  carried  out 
with  a  regularity  and  strict  adherence  to  schedule  to  which 
they  were  utterly  unaccustomed,  your  company  is  represented 
to-day  by  three  steamers,  and  is  making  the  service  from 
Salina  Cruz  clear  down  to  Nicaragua,  embracing  all  the  ports 
of  Guatemala,  Salvador,  Amapala,  the  only  Honduranean  port 
on  the  Pacific,  and  Corinto.  In  barely  a  year  we  have  found 
ample  reason  for  increasing  our  service  to  three  vessels,  two 


206    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

of  which  are  chartered  boats,  while  we  may  be  able  to  put  in 
hand  the  building  of  a  second  boat  of  the  same  type  as  our 
first.  This  satisfactory  result  has  only  been  attained  by 
untiring  effort;  but  we  have  reason  to  believe  that  your 
steamship  service  has  arrived  to  stay,  and  that  it  will  be 
represented  by  a  substantial  figure  in  the  earnings  in  the 
future.  The  service  has  won  deserved  popularity  by  reason 
of  its  being  carried  out,  as  I  have  told  you,  with  adherence  to 
a  schedule,  and  we  now  frequently  receive  in  London  applica- 
tions from  Central  Americans  travelling  about  Europe  with 
their  families  to  reserve  cabins  for  them  on  our  steamer 
Salvador.  Mails  are  now  sent  by  this  service  of  ours  in  con- 
nection with  the  Isthmus  of  Tehuantepec,  and  reach  Europe 
in  about  sixteen  days  instead  of  a  month ;  while  the  planters 
get  their  produce  to  European  markets  in  little  over  thirty 
days,  against  forty  to  fifty  by  way  of  Panama,  and  over  one 
hundred  by  way  of  the  Straits  of  Magellan.  The  passenger 
traffic  on  the  Salvador,  which  we  were  all  disposed  to  regard 
as  something  that  might  take  a  considerable  time  to  develop, 
has  already  given  results  which  you  will  understand  better 
when  I  tell  you  that  generally  the  accommodation  provided 
for  passengers  on  the  Salvador  is  fully  taken  up.  During  my 
stay  in  Salvador  I  took  advantage  of  the  appreciation  thus 
shown  by  the  public  of  our  steamship  venture  to  arrange  with 
the  Government  a  contract  for  a  subsidy,  and  we  are  now 
receiving  £100  per  month  in  gold  on  this  head.  I  had  the 
honour  of  being  received  by  His  Excellency  President  Diaz  on 
several  occasions  during  my  stay  in  Mexico,  both  going  out 
and  returning  home,  and  he  promised  favourable  consideration 
by  his  Government  of  an  application,  which  we  have  since 
formally  put  in,  for  a  subsidy  from  that  Republic,  which  is 
benefiting  as  much  as  Salvador  from  the  development  of  your 
steamship  service." 

With  such  prospects  the  Salvador  Railway  seems 
destined  to  enjoy  a  time  of  great  prosperity ;  and, 
indeed,  the  outlook  would  be  practically  undimmed 
but  for  the  ever- threatening  question  of  the  exchange. 


DECK  BRIDGE  ON  SALVADOR  RAILWAY. 


STATION  BUILDING  AT  SANTA  ANA  ON  THE  SALVADOR  RAILWAY 


EXCHANGE  207 

The  high  rate  of  sterling  exchange  constitutes  a 
very  real  and  visible  "  fly  in  the  ointment."  Salvador, 
it  may  be  pointed  out,  has  the  advantages  of  a  metallic 
currency,  with  no  fiscal  paper  money  of  any  sort ;  but, 
unfortunately,  it  is  a  silver  currency,  which  is  aggra- 
vated by  the  circumstance  that  the  export  of  silver,  if 
not  actually  prohibited  by  legislation,  is  at  all  events 
very  difficult  to  bring  about,  inasmuch  as  official  per- 
mission is  required,  and  is  as  often  refused. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  banks  are  overstocked  with 
silver,  and  are  willing  to  lend  sums  at  what  may,  for 
these  parts  of  the  world,  be  considered  very  low  rates 
of  interest — namely,  5  per  cent,  per  annum — which 
enables  people,  who  would  otherwise  be  compelled  to 
sell  drafts  against  their  exported  produce,  to  hold 
them  back,  and,  by  a  simple  understanding  among 
themselves,  keep  the  rates  as  near  to  200  per  cent, 
premium  as  may  suit  their  own  interests. 

The  Salvador  Railway  Company,  which  has  a  silver 
tariff  pure  and  simple,  has  to  buy  sterling  drafts, 
whatever  the  rate  may  be,  in  order  to  meet  debenture 
interest  payments,  the  cost  and  freight  upon  all  im- 
ported materials  for  its  various  services,  insurance  upon 
its  properties,  its  London  expenses — including  directors' 
remuneration — and  towards  this  large  expenditure  the 
only  sterling  contribution  of  the  country  is  the  Govern- 
mental subsidy  of  £24,000  per  annum,  which  payment 
will  terminate  automatically  in  1916. 

In  sending  out  their  Chairman,  Mr.  Mark  J.  Kelly, 
therefore,  in  1910,  to  endeavour  to  reduce  the  com- 
pany's burden  in  this  respect,  the  Board  of  Directors 
undoubtedly  made  a  wise  move,  inasmuch  as  no  one 
could  possibly  be  better  placed,  by  reason  of  his  great 
popularity  and  exceptional  experience,  than  Mr.  Kelly 


208     SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

to  conduct  such  delicate  and  intricate  negotiations. 
In  spite  of  such  influence  and  personal  weight,  however, 
I  am  much  afraid  that  the  time  is  hardly  yet  when 
any  serious  modification  of  the  terms  of  the  company's 
concession — such  as  the  granting  of  a  tariff  payable  in 
gold — may  be  looked  for. 

At  a  time  when  gold  is  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
200  per  cent,  premium  (i.e.,  1  silver  dollar  equals 
33  cents  gold)  this  would  mean  an  increase  in  the 
tariff  rates,  and  the  Government  can  hardly  be  ex- 
pected to  authorize  that  increase  in  the  present  cir- 
cumstances. As  a  matter  of  fact,  the  company's  tariff 
is  much  below  that  of  any  railway  undertaking  in  the 
whole  of  Latin- America,  of  which  I,  at  least,  have  any 
cognizance.  But  the  public  are  hardly  likely  on  that 
account  to  be  any  more  disposed  to  fall  in  with  an 
increase  in  the  railway's  rates. 

The  outlook  for  the  Salvador  Railway  generally  is, 
as  observed,  a  hopeful  one.  It  is  admitted  by  all  who 
are  acquainted  with  its  operations  that  its  advent  and 
completion  have  materially  aided  the  development  of 
the  Republic's  resources,  and  day  by  day  the  expansion 
of  its  industries  is  becoming  more  apparent.  The  local 
traffics,  showing  as  they  do  gradual  but  consistent 
development,  are  the  outcome  of  the  safe  but  conser- 
vative policy  of  the  management,  whose  relations,  as 
I  have  already  observed,  with  the  railway's  clientele 
are  of  the  most  friendly  character.  If  the  agricultural 
development  of  the  portions  of  the  country  served  by 
the  railway  have  been  somewhat  slow,  the  movements 
have,  at  least,  been  consistent ;  and  there  can  be  little 
doubt  that  an  intelligent  expansion  of  the  Republic's 
magnificent  possibilities  is  merely  a  question  of  time. 
No  permanent  improvement  must  be  expected,  how- 


EXCHANGE  AND  TRADE  209 

ever,  to  assert  itself  until  the  difficulties  of  exchange 
have  been  overcome.  While  poor  trade  may  have 
somewhat  affected  the  returns  of  the  last  two  years, 
the  rate  of  exchange  has  been  responsible  for  the 
greater  part  of  the  financial  disappointment.  Possibly 
the  poor  trade  is  the  cause  of  the  exchange  being  so 
high,  as  much  as  the  exchange  being  the  cause  of  the 
poverty  of  trade.  So  far  as  the  railway  is  concerned, 
the  effect  is  certainly  twofold — directly,  by  reason  of 
the  loss  upon  remittances  to  the  head -office  in  London  ; 
and  indirectly,  on  account  of  the  prejudicial  influence 
upon  trade. 

There  is  a  very  general  and  perfectly  comprehensible 
complaint  that,  in  spite  of  the  better  crops  which  have 
been  garnered  this  and  last  year,  and  the  abundance 
of  silver  currency,  actual  sales  of  merchantable  goods 
have  been  less,  on  account  of  the  high  rate  of  exchange 
compelling  the  sellers  to  continually  mark-up  their 
wares.  One  result  of  this  is  that  the  merchants  have 
ordered  fewer  goods,  and  the  railway  has  carried  less 
freight. 

Unfortunately,  in  Salvador — as  in  other  parts  of 
the  world,  our  own  not  excepted — there  are  several 
divergent  opinions  upon  this  question  of  economics, 
and  here  one  comes  across  as  many  individuals  who 
are  in  favour  of  a  high  exchange  as  those  who  decry 
it.  The  planters,  for  instance,  hold  that  the  high  ex- 
changes constitute  a  clear  and  legitimate  bonus  upon 
the  value  of  the  coffee,  the  indigo,  the  balsam,  and  the 
other  articles  of  export ;  while  the  importers  clamour 
loudly,  and  perhaps  with  some  more  reason  on  their 
side,  that  the  high  exchanges,  if,  indeed,  they  are  really 
of  any  benefit  at  all  to  the  planters,  form  no  less  a  tax, 
and  a  very  heavy  one  at  that,  upon  the  goods  con- 

14 


210    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

sumed  by  the  general  public.  Still  worse,  however, 
they  act  as  a  deterrent  to  active  trade  and  commerce, 
since  all  goods  sold  must  be  marked-up  at  higher  prices 
than  are  customary,  with  the  very  natural  result  of  a 
smaller  consumption.  Thus,  the  public  are  disap- 
pointed, the  merchants  are  grumbling,  the  revenue  of 
the  country  in  its  Customs -houses  suffers,  and  the 
railway  and  its  shareholders  are  left  lamenting — all 
because  the  planters  must  be  humoured. 

This  contention  might  also  contain  a  little  more  force 
were  wages  to  advance  in  the  same  ratio  as  the  rate  of 
exchange.  But  this  is  far  from  being  the  case,  for  no 
advance  in  wages  has  followed  upon  the  increased 
premium  upon  drafts  on  London ;  while  bankers  of 
Salvador,  on  the  other  hand,  declare  that  they  derive 
no  profits  on  balance  from  their  exchange  account. 
More  often  than  not,  so  they  say,  they  suffer  a  loss, 
since  the  fluctuations  in  the  rates  are  so  eccentric  and 
so  difficult  to  control  that  they  are  particularly  favoured 
when  they  succeed  in  covering  the  cheques  or  short- 
dated  drafts,  which  they  issue  on  Europe  by  purchases 
of  ninety  days'  drafts  from  the  planters,  without 
actually  incurring  a  loss. 

The  rate  of  exchange  in  Salvador  to-day  is  a  very 
high  one — nothing  like  that  of  Colombia,  it  is  true, 
but  at  time  of  writing  gold  is  at  160  per  cent,  premium. 
Here,  however,  it  must  be  remembered  there  is  no 
official  currency  of  paper  whatever,  the  banks  which 
issue  notes  being  subject  to  rigorous  inspection  and 
compelled  to  maintain  silver  coin  to  an  extent  which 
reduces  their  issues  of  notes  to  a  mere  matter  of  public 
convenience,  rather  than  a  source  of  profit  to  the  banks 
themselves.  All  this  is  of  great  moment  to  the  wel- 
fare and  the  future  of  the  Salvador  Railway,  and  has 
more  than  once  been  explained  at  length  by  the  capable 


SALVADOR  RAILWAY 

and  experienced  Chairman,  Mr.  Mark  J.  Kelly,  at  the 
meetings  of  the  shareholders  held  in  London. 

The  financial  condition  of  the  Salvador  Railway  is 
to-day  a  steadily  improving  one.  We  see  that  for  the 
last  year  (1909-10)  the  gross  receipts  were  better  by 
£6,921 ;  while  the  ratio  of  expenses  was  also  satisfactory, 
namely,  51*81  as  against  5 4 "6 8,  a  decrease  of  2*87  per 
cent.  Improved  good- traffics  were  also  met  with,  and 
worked  out  at  Is.  Id.  a  ton  in  excess  of  previous 
figures.  After  providing  interest  and  redemption 
upon  both  classes  of  Debentures,  and  interest  at  5  per 
cent,  per  annum  upon  the  Terminable  Notes,  the 
amount  available  for  distribution  amounted  to 
£8,565  13s.  9d.,  out  of  which  was  made  a  payment 
of  3  per  cent,  upon  the  Preference  shares  for  the 
year,  leaving  a  balance  of  £1,065  13s.  9d.,  carried 
forward  to  the  credit  of  Net  Revenue  Account.  Prior 
Lien  Debentures  amounting  to  £3,600,  and  Mortgage 
Debentures  to  another  £9,000,  have  also  been  redeemed 
this  year,  making  the  total  redemption  £62,200  to  date 
of  the  accounts. 

In  June  of  next  year  (1912)  the  Terminable  Notes, 
amounting  to  £45,000,  will  be  either  paid  off  or  con- 
verted into  Debentures  probably  bearing  5  per  cent, 
interest.  The  exact  financial  position  of  the  company 
stands  as  follows  : 

Authorized  Share  Capital : 

Preference  shares,  .£250,000  (in  £W  shares). 

Ordinary  shares,  £250,000  (in  £10  shares). 

Of  these,  the  whole  amount  has  been  issued,  viz.  £500,000 

Debentures  : 

Authorized  (5  per  cent.  Prior  Lien) ...  ...     £250,000 

(5  per  cent.  Mortgage)   ...  ...       660,000 

£910,000 

Out  of  which  a  balance  still  remained  unpaid  off ...  847,800 

Five  per  Cent.  Terminable  Notes  Authorized  and 

including  cost  of  issue  ...  ...  ...  45,000 

Thus  the  company  has  a  total  liability  outstanding  of      £1,392,800 


SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

Few  of  the  States  in  Central  America  offer  greater 
opportunities  or  inducements  for  railway  extensions 
than  Salvador,  and  this  in  spite  of  the  fact  that  the 
country  is  generally  mountainous,  and  is  more  than 
well  supplied  with  rivers,  most  of  which  for  railway 
purposes  have  to  be  bridged.  It  must  be  remembered, 
however,  that  Salvador  is  the  most  densely  populated 
of  all  the  Central  American  Republics ;  the  country 
has  therefore  been  very  carefully  surveyed,  with  the 
idea  of  railway  extension  upon  a  considerable  scale. 

In  the  year  1891  the  United  States  Government 
despatched  an  Intercontinental  Railway  Commission 
to  make  surveys  and  explorations,  not  only  in  Salvador, 
but  in  Guatemala,  Honduras,  Nicaragua,  and  Costa 
Rica.  The  result  of  such  enterprise  has  been  the 
publication  of  a  voluminous  Report,  which  was  issued 
in  1898,  five  years  after  the  Commission's  return  to 
the  United  States.  The  Report  is  altogether  favour- 
able for  railway  extension  in  Salvador,  and  it  speaks 
very  highly  of  the  enterprise  of  the  Salvador  Railway 
Company,  of  which  a  description  will  be  found  in  the 
preceding  pages.  Previous  to  the  despatch  of  the 
American  Commission,  the  Salvador  Government  had 
had  a  survey  of  the  eastern  portion  of  the  country 
made  by  Mr.  Charles  T.  Spencer,  an  English  en- 
gineer of  great  experience,  and  who  is  now  General 
Manager  of  the  Salvador  Railway.  There  can  be 
very  little  question  that  at  some  time  in  the  near 
future  further  railway  construction  will  be  pro- 
ceeded with,  since  the  country  is  so  rich  in  agricul- 
tural produce  that  a  means  of  transportation  in 
addition  to  and  other  than  that  in  vogue  must  be 
introduced.  In  many  parts  of  the  country  the  ground 
is  quite  favourable  to  railroad  work,  the  soil  being 


NEW  RAILWAY  LINES  213 

largely  decomposed  volcanic  ash,  which  stands  well  in 
cuttings,  although  there  are  numerous  spurs  to  be  cut 
through  in  many  of  the  districts  surveyed ;  these  are 
in  general  all  lava  rock  or  conglomerate,  offering  good 
material  for  ballast.  In  but  few  localities  are  any 
grades  found  steeper  than  2  or  3  per  cent.,  or  any 
curves  sharper  than  12°. 

A  Government  concession  for  the  construction  of  a 
railway  from  La  Union  to  the  Guatemalan  frontier  was 
granted  on  June  15,  1908,  to  Mr.  Rene  Keilhauer,  who 
was  authorized  to  construct  a  line  to  extend  from  the 
port  of  La  Union,  on  the  Gulf  of  Fonseca,  to  a  point 
on  the  Guatemalan  frontier.  The  line  as  projected 
leaves  the  port  of  La  Union,  and  passes  or  connects 
with  the  cities  of  Usulutan,  San  Vicente  and  Coju- 
tepeque,  unites  with  the  line  already  built  between 
the  capital  and  Santa  Ana,  and  proceeds  to  the 
Guatemalan  frontier  to  make  connection  with  the 
Atlantic  Railway  of  that  country,  and  which  was 
inaugurated  towards  the  middle  of  1908.  A  branch  line 
will  eventually,  it  is  supposed,  also  run  from  La  Union 
to  San  Miguel,  the  most  important  town  of  the  eastern 
section  of  the  Republic  of  Salvador,  and  connection  will 
be  made  with  Ahuachapan  to  the  west,  thus  furnishing 
railroad  links  with  all  the  principal  Departments. 

The  total  length  of  this  line  will  be  360  kilometres, 
and  the  contract  carries  with  it  the  construction  of  a 
wharf  at  La  Union  of  steel  and  iron,  to  be  erected  in 
connection  with  the  railroad,  and  capable  of  accommo- 
dating the  freight  handling  of  steamers.  The  stipula- 
tion is  made  that  the  survey  of  the  line  shall  begin 
"  within  sixty  days  of  the  signing  of  the  contract,"  and 
that  the  La  Union-San  Miguel  section  be  completed 
"  within  eighteen  months  " — that  is  to  say,  by  the  end 


SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

of  1910  ;  but  this  stipulation  obviously  has  not  been 
carried  out.  Of  the  remaining  sections  of  the  railroad, 
20  kilometres  annually  are  to  be  put  into  commis- 
sion. Government  assistance  is  guaranteed,  and  free 
entry  for  all  material  at  the  Customs-house  is  assured. 

Previously  Mr.  Keilhauer  had  been  granted  a  conces- 
sion for  the  construction  of  a  line  of  railroad  from  Santa 
Ana  to  the  Guatemalan  frontier,  the  duration  of  such 
concession  being  ninety-nine  years,  and  carrying  with 
it  a  Government  subsidy  of  3  per  cent,  per  annum 
of  the  cost  of  each  kilometre,  which  was  fixed  at 
$20,000  (  =  £4,000). 

The  most  important  feature  in  this  contract  lies  in 
the  circumstance  that  it  covers  the  section  of  the 
Pan-American  line  belonging  to  Salvador,  as  defined 
in  the  Convention  which  was  signed  in  Washington 
on  December  20,  1907,  on  the  occasion  of  the  Central 
American  Peace  Conference.  As  a  matter  of  fact, 
work  upon  this  construction  was  only  commenced  on 
April  15,  1910,  on  the  Eastern  Division  of  the  Pan- 
American  Railroad,  and  the  occasion  was  celebrated 
by  official  banquets,  as  is  the  hospitable  custom  in 
Latin- America.  It  is  significant  that  at  the  time  that 
the  concession  was  obtained,  and  before  any  actual 
work  commenced,  the  name  of  Mr.  Rene'  Keilhauer 
was  used  ;  but  from  then  onwards  it  disappears,  and 
those  of  Mr.  Minor  C.  Keith  and  Mr.  Bradley  M. 
Palmer,  both  of  the  United  Fruit  Company,  the  former 
being  the  President,  are  substituted.  Mr.  Keith  has 
a  firm  grip  upon  several  of  the  Central  American 
Republics,  particularly  Costa  Rica,  Honduras,  and 
Guatemala  ;  while  he  has  also  extended  his  tentacles 
to  Nicaragua,  with  somewhat  doubtful  beneficial  effects 
to  that  Republic.  Mr.  Minor  C.  Keith  is  likewise  the 


NEW  RAILWAY  LINES  215 

moving  spirit  in  the  railroad  from  Santa  Ana  (in 
Salvador)  to  Zacapa  (in  Guatemala).  This  line  has 
a  length  of  seventy-nine  miles,  and  is  of  a  standard 
gauge.  Although  surveys  had  been  undertaken  and 
materials  had  been  ordered  at  the  time  of  my  visit  last 
year  to  the  Republic,  nothing  whatever  had  been  done 
towards  active  construction. 

There  are  some  critics  of  this  contemplated  line  of 
railway  who  consider  it  not  alone  one  extremely  costly 
to  construct,  but  as  likely  to  prove  a  financial  loss  to 
the  proprietors  when  finished  and  open  to  traffic.  It 
may  be,  of  course,  that  this  view  is  unnecessarily  pessi- 
mistic, but,  inasmuch  as  hereafter  the  investing  public 
may  be  invited  to  take  a  hand  in  the  enterprise,  it  is 
desirable  to  present  the  other  view  for  their  careful 
consideration. 


CHAPTER  XVI 

Ports  and  harbours — La  Union — Population — Bail  way  extensions— Lack 
of  British  bottoms— Carrying  trade— H.B.M.'s  Vice- Consul— Port  of 
Triunfo— Bad  entrance— Proposed  railway  — Acajutla— Loading  and 
unloading  facilities  —  Proposed  improvements  —  Salvador  Eailway 
connections — La  Libertad — Comandante  and  garrison — Loading 
and  unloading  facilities — Cable  station  and  the  service  provided  by 
Government — The  staff  of  operators. 

THE  western  arm  of  the  Gulf  of  Fonseca  forms  the 
capacious  and  land-locked  harbour  of  La  Union,  which 
is  situated  on  the  south-western  shore,  four  and  three- 
quarter  miles  above  the  entrance.  On  the  north  side 
of  the  bay  are  extensive  mud-flats  that  contract  the 
channel  in  places  to  less  than  a  mile  in  width,  while 
another  in  front  of  the  town  uncovers  at  half-tide, 
virtually  cutting  off  all  communication  with  the  shore. 
This  flat  has  encroached  upon  the  anchorage  since  Sir 
Edward  Belcher's  survey  was  made,  diminishing  the 
depth  slightly,  and  shifting  the  channel  a  little  to  the 
northward.  A  small  pier  facilitates  landing  at  high- 
water,  and  on  the  outer  end  of  it  a  light  is  sometimes 
shown ;  but  it  is  of  minor  value,  being  dimmed  by  the 
lights  in  the  town  behind  it.  Coffee,  cotton,  hides, 
and  balsam  of  Peru  (so  called,  although  it  comes  from 
Salvador),  are  exported.  Beef,  poultry,  and  oysters, 
can  be  obtained  at  reasonable  rates.  As  ships  find 
great  difficulty  in  watering  here,  it  is  recommended 
to  anchor  and  fill  up  at  the  spring,  one  mile  below 
Chicarene  Point. 

216 


PORTS  AND  HARBOURS  217 

Steamers  coming  to  La  Union  are  given  the  follow- 
ing directions : 

"  If  bound  for  La  Union,  keep  to  port  of  all  the  islands,  and 
steer  to  come  between  Conchaguita  and  the  western  shore 
under  the  volcano  of  Conchagua.  When  fairly  in  mid- 
channel,  the  entrance  to  the  harbour  will  be  seen  ahead 
between  Punta  Sacate  Island  on  the  right  and  Chicarene 
Point,  which  terminates  the  eastern  slope  of  the  volcano  on 
the  left.  Steer  nearly  for  the  Point,  and  even  bring  it  a  little 
on  the  starboard  bow  if  the  flood-tide  is  running,  as  it  sets 
across  the  shoal  north  of  Conchaguita.  As  the  point  is 
approached,  open  it  a  little  from  the  north  end  of  Punta 
Sacate  and  run  past,  giving  the  island  the  widest  berth,  as 
there  is  a  rocky  patch  making  out  from  the  south-west  point. 
It  has  been  recommended  to  keep  Chicarene  Point  close 
aboard,  but  a  steamer  drawing  15  feet  touched  a  rock  in 
doing  so ;  therefore  a  safe  rule  would  be  to  keep  a  little  to 
the  westward  of  mid-channel.  During  the  springs  the  tide 
runs  through  the  pass  at  the  rate  of  three  knots  an  hour." 

The  port  of  La  Union  is  the  largest  in  the  Republic, 
but,  in  spite  of  this  fact,  landing  is  sometimes  difficult, 
and  until  some  constructional  improvements  are  made 
it  will  continue  to  be  so.  At  present  it  is  necessary 
to  disembark  from  the  steamer  on  to  a  launch ;  from 
the  launch  descend  into  a  small  row-boat,  and  from 
the  small  row-boat  transfer  to  a  "  dugout."  Even 
then  the  traveller  is  not  at  the  end  of  his  trials,  since 
he  has  to  leave  the  dugout  for  a  ride  on  a  man's 
back  through  several  yards  of  surf  before  he  can  reach 
terra  firm  a. 

La  Uni6n  has  a  population  of  8,000  people,  in- 
cluding a  garrison  of  1,000  troops.  It  carries  on  a 
considerable  amount  of  trade,  chiefly  in  coffee  exporta- 
tion and  foreign  goods  importation,  in  spite  of  the 
difficulties  of  approach  by  sea.  The  advent  of  the 


218    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

railway  is  likely  to  add  to  this  volume  of  traffic,  if 
only  to  a  limited  extent.  It  is  noteworthy,  however, 
that  the  people  of  La  Uni6n  are  by  no  means  enthusi- 
astic regarding  the  approach  of  this  railway,  and  they 
speak  very  pessimistically  as  to  its  prospects.  In 
conversation  with  one  of  the  leading  citizens,  I  was 
informed  that  the  railway  "is  hardly  likely  to  prove 
profitable,  since  it  is  in  the  hands  of  the  wrong 
people  "  (namely,  an  American  group) ;  and  the  case 
of  the  railway  at  Puerto  Barrios,  in  Guatemala,  which 
is  controlled  by  some  of  the  same  entrepreneurs,  is 
quoted  as  an  example  of  what  may  be  expected.  So 
indifferently  are  passengers  treated  in  connection  with 
the  Guatemala  Railway,  which  is  under  the  jurisdiction 
of  the  United  Fruit  Company  of  Boston,  U.S.A.,  that 
no  one  now  will  travel  upon  it  if  he  can  possibly 
avoid  it.  It  is  quite  probable,  in  view  of  the  much- 
improved  steamship  service  offered  by  the  Salvador 
Railway  (from  Acajutla  to  Salina  Cruz,  Mexico),  that 
this  will  continue  to  be  the  principal  means  of  reaching 
the  United  States  and  Europe  and  for  transmitting 
cargoes. 

La  Union  was  at  one  time  a  port  of  call  for  the 
Pacific  Steam  Navigation  Company  of  Liverpool,  which, 
however,  withdrew  their  service  in  1898,  apparently 
finding  the  competition  with  the  Pacific  Mail  Steam- 
ship Company  of  San  Francisco  too  keen,  and  the 
carrying  business  insufficient.  The  Pacific  Steam 
Navigation  Company  sold  out  their  interest  to  the 
Pacific  Mail  Steamship  Company,  and  since  then- 
much  to  the  regret  of  all  shippers  and  passengers  alike 
in  the  Central  American  ports — its  boats  have  not 
been  seen  at  La  Uni6n. 

In  fact,  no  British  steamers  have  called  there  except 


LA  UNION  219 

an  occasional  Leyland  or  a  Lamport  and  Holt  steamer 
sent  to  load  coffee,  and  the  reappearance  of  the  British 
flag  has  been  entirely  due  to  the  efforts  of  the  Salvador 
Railway  Company. 

The  Pacific  Mail  Steamship's  Company's  freight 
charges  are  now  $3  gold  (12s.  6d.)  per  ton  for 
carrying  coffee  from  La  Union  and  other  Central 
American  ports  to  San  Francisco,  U.S.A.,  but  they 
formerly  charged  $8  (33s.  4d.)  per  ton.  The  con- 
siderable reduction  is  due  to  the  severe  competi- 
tion which  this  octopus-like  company  has  had  to 
meet  with  from  both  the  Kosmos  Company  and  the 
Salvador  Railway. 

The  annual  export  of  coffee  from  La  Union  amounts 
to  150,000  sacks,  all  of  which  are  carried  to  Europe 
(Hamburg,  Havre,  etc.),  the  Kosmos  Company  taking 
by  far  the  greater  part.  Day  by  day  the  Pacific 
Mail  Steamship  Company  loses  ground  and  popularity 
throughout  Central  American  ports  owing  to  its  ex- 
tortionate charges  (where  there  is  no  competition),  to 
its  indifferent  management,  and,  above  all,  by  reason 
of  the  gross  discourtesy  with  which  its  clients  are 
sometimes  treated  by  the  uncouth  and  half -savage 
officials  whom  it  employs. 

British  interests  at  La  Union,  such  as  they  are,  are 
represented  by  Mr.  John  B.  Courtade,  His  Britannic 
Majesty's  Vice-Consul ;  and  this  gentleman  also  acts 
as  French,  Chilian,  and  Norwegian  Consul.  Mr. 
Courtade,  who  is  a  Frenchman  by  birth,  has  been  a 
resident  of  La  Union  for  thirty-three  years,  and  he  is 
one  of  the  best-known  and  most-respected  inhabitants 
of  the  place.  The  " palatial"  offices  which  enshrine 
H.B.M.'s  Vice-Consulate  will  be  noted  with  satisfac- 
tion by  the  patriotic. 


220    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

Between  La  Union  and  La  Libertad  is  situated  the 
port  of  Triunfo,  which  is  60  miles  from  the  latter, 
and  156  miles  from  the  former.  Triunfo,  however, 
has  a  very  poor  natural  entrance,  owing  to  the  heavy 
surf  which  is  continually  breaking  on  the  shore. 
It  is  to  this  port,  nevertheless,  that  an  American 
syndicate  are  about  to  construct  a  railway,  with  the 
idea  of  handling  the  large  quantity  of  coffee  which  is 
grown  in  the  neighbourhood,  and  consigned  to  this 
port  for  shipment  abroad.  So  dangerous  was  Triunfo 
formerly  considered  as  a  landing-place,  that  Lloyd's 
had  been  advised  by  their  agents  not  to  issue  in- 
surances, but  to  allow  shippers  to  take  the  risk.  With 
the  contemplated  improvements  at  the  port,  however, 
in  conjunction  with  the  railway,  Triunfo  will  probably 
be  ranked  with  La  Uni6n  as  a  safe  and  convenient 
port.  At  present  the  steamers  of  the  Salvador  Rail- 
way Company  call  there  on  their  way  to  and  from 
Corinto  to  Salina  Cruz. 

During  last  year  the  Government  encouraged 
measures  to  maintain  a  first-class  service  of  loading 
and  unloading  cargo  at  the  various  ports,  while 
attending  also  to  the  embarking  and  disembarking  of 
passengers,  recognizing  the  necessity  of  putting  both 
these  branches  of  service  upon  a  more  satisfactory 
footing.  Serviceable  and  commodious  port-boats  have 
been  provided  for  each  of  the  Comandantes  at  La 
Union,  La  Libertad,  and  Triunfo.  The  latter  port 
is  now  used,  as  mentioned  above,  for  the  shipping  of 
coffee  almost  exclusively ;  and  it  is  through  El  Triunfo 
that  is  exported  the  produce  of  the  bountiful  coffee 
harvest  yielded  by  the  Department  of  Usulutan,  which 
represents  more  than  a  third  part  of  the  whole  of  the 
Republic's  coffee  produce. 


ACAJUTLA 

Acajutla,  the  port  of  Sonsonate,  is  an  open  bay 
about  sixty-two  miles  to  the  east  of  San  Jose ;  it  is 
sheltered  from  the  south-east  by  the  Remedios  reef,  a 
dangerous  and  extensive  shoal,  extending  from  a  point 
of  the  same  name.  The  salt  water  here  is  considered 
injurious  to  cables  and  copper.  Ships  anchor  in  9  to 
1 1  fathoms.  Landing  is  occasionally  difficult,  and  ought 
to  be  effected  in  a  good  boat.  Merchant  vessels  load 
and  discharge  their  cargoes  by  means  of  bongos,  or 
large  craft  in  the  shape  of  whale-boats.  A  substan- 
tially-built pier,  fitted  with  cranes,  facilitates  the 
landing,  although  at  times  the  surf  renders  it 
hazardous.  By  giving  short  notice,  fresh  provisions 
may  be  obtained  in  large  quantities  from  Sonsonate. 
The  active  volcano  of  Izalco,  on  a  north-east  by  north 
bearing,  forms  a  good  leading  mark  for  this  part,  and 
Point  Remedios,  long,  low,  and  thickly  wooded,  may 
easily  be  recognized. 

The  sea-bathing  at  Acajutla  contributes  to  the 
attraction  of  the  place.  Nowhere  upon  the  coast  of 
these  Central  American  countries  will  a  smoother  or 
wider  sand-beach  be  found ;  and  at  all  times  of  the 
year,  while  at  most  hours  of  the  day,  women  and 
children  are  found  disporting  themselves  in  the 
swelling  and  sometimes  boisterous  surf.  The  com- 
parative freedom  from  the  attacks  of  sharks  and  other 
predatory  fish  is  also  a  great  benefit,  although  there 
are  stories  current  of  men  and  women  having  been 
seized  and  carried  away  by  these  prowling  tigers  of 
the  sea.  An  "  old  inhabitant  "  of  some  twenty-five 
years'  residence,  however,  informed  me  that  he  had 
never  known  of  a  case  where  death  had  ensued,  and, 
while  he  himself  had  heard  of  the  shark  stories  referred 
to,  he  had  no  personal  knowledge  of  their  accuracy. 


222    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

The  sanitary  conditions  of  Acajutla  are  at  present 
poor,  and  it  is  scarcely  surprising  to  hear  that  cases 
of  fever  and  other  maladies  exist  in  certain  seasons. 
All  this  could  easily  be  changed  by  a  more  strict 
municipal  supervision,  and  an  ordinance  which  ren- 
dered penal  the  perpetration  of  the  prevailing  habits 
of  the  people.  Such  deadly  fever-dens  as  the  local 
"  hotel,"  for  instance,  should  be  swept  away  without 
remorse  or  hesitation,  and  a  system  of  house-to-house 
inspection  introduced.  In  view  of  the  fact  that  many 
foreigners  as  well  as  natives  have,  of  a  necessity,  to 
spend  a  certain  amount  of  time  in  the  port,  awaiting 
their  steamers  proceeding  north  or  south,  it  is  the 
bounden  duty  of  the  local  authorities  to  see  that  their 
lives  are  not  endangered  by  pestilential  conditions 
existing  in  the  town.  The  small  but  important 
colony  of  hard-working  port  and  railway  officials 
should  also  be  considered,  and  especially  as  among 
them  are  some  few  Europeans  who  are  not  accus- 
tomed to  the  unsanitary  system  in  vogue.  I  have 
little  doubt  that,  once  the  attention  of  the  Salvador 
Government  is  directed  to  this  matter,  some  improve- 
ment will  be  introduced,  and,  once  introduced,  will  be 
carefully  maintained. 

Whatever  prospect  is  in  store  for  the  port  of  Acajutla 
depends  to  a  great  extent  upon  the  success  of  the  new 
shipping  arrangements  in  connection  with  the  Salvador 
Railway,  and  these,  as  I  have  already  pointed  out 
elsewhere,  are  making  consistent  and  steady  progress. 
It  is  but  a  small  place,  and,  although  very  picturesquely 
situated  upon  a  typically  tropical  coast,  it  is  at  some 
seasons  found  rather  trying,  especially  to  Europeans. 
The  surrounding  scenery,  like  all  the  country  in 
Salvador,  is  attractive  to  the  eye,  the  long  line  of  blue 


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LA  LIBERTAD 

ocean,  fringed  with  its  lacelike  foam,  for  ever  gathering 
and  breaking  in  dazzling  green  and  white  waves  upon 
the  smooth  and  sandy  beach ;  the  brilliant  green  of 
the  mangrove,  the  cocoamit  palms,  and  the  banana 
patches  lend  vividness  of  colour,  while  the  distant 
mountain-peaks,  innumerable  and  fantastic  of  shape, 
give  the  port  of  Acajutla  a  decidedly  romantic  aspect. 

Although  during  the  dry  season  a  strong  and  cool 
wind  blows  for  several  hours  of  the  day,  and  at  sunset 
changes  to  a  pleasant  land-breeze,  blowing  sometimes 
steadily,  and  at  others  decidedly  gustily,  during  the 
night,  the  hours  of  darkness  never  seem  so  long  nor 
so  trying,  on  account  of  the  heat,  the  dryness,  and  the 
mosquitoes,  as  is  the  case  in  so  many  parts  of  South 
and  Central  America.  Some  day,  maybe,  this  place 
will  be  taken  in  hand  by  the  speculative  builder,  and 
as  great  improvements  effected  as  have  been  introduced 
at  Panamd,  at  Puerto  Limon  (Costa  Rica),  and  at  San 
Jose,  in  the  same  Republic,  but  on  the  Pacific  side  of 
that  Republic.  Acajutla  is  just  as  open  to,  and  capable 
of,  improvement  and  reformation  ;  between  the  enter- 
prise of  the  Salvador  Government  and  the  Salvador 
Railway  Company  there  is  no  reason  why  this  port 
should  not  eventually  become  one  of  the  most  im- 
portant in  Central  America. 

La  Libertad  is  the  second  of  the  three  Salvadorean 
ports,  as  already  mentioned,  Acajutla  and  La  Uni6n 
being  the  other  two.  It  is  a  small  but  well-formed 
roadstead,  but  does  not  invariably  offer  good  shelter  to 
the  largest  vessels,  since  sudden  rollers  come  in  which 
are  apt  to  snap  ship's  cables  unless  with  a  long  range. 
The  foreshore  is  narrow,  and  is  backed  up  by  some 
lofty  hills — scarcely  high  enough  to  be  called  moun- 
tains, however — which  are  partially  cultivated,  and 


SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

form  a  pleasing  setting  to  the  Port  itself.  The  build- 
ings are  few  as  yet,  but  such  as  there  are  they  seem  to 
be  well  constructed  and  of  superior  character  both 
outwardly  and  inwardly ;  the  usual  style  of  Latin  - 
American  architecture  is  followed  in  regard  to  the  one- 
story  edifice,  except  in  the  case  of  the  Comandancia — 
official  residence  and  office  of  the  chief  authority— 
which  is  a  large  wooden  edifice  of  two  stories,  the 
]ower  portion  forming  the  quarters  of  the  garrison,  and 
the  upper  part  the  residence  of  the  Comandante. 
About  100  men  form  the  garrison,  the  regi- 
ment quartered  there  being  the  5th  Artillery.  They 
possess  several  pieces  of  modern  ordnance,  which  they 
know  how  to  handle  with  great  expedition  and  effici- 
ency. The  guns  are  kept  exceedingly  clean,  and 
frequent  drills  serve  to  keep  the  artillerymen  both 
smart  and  interested.  The  Comandante  of  the  Port, 
Captain  Angel  Esteves,  is  quite  a  young  man,  possessed 
of  a  very  pleasing  face  and  figure,  as  well  as  of  charm- 
ing manners.  He  has  travelled  in  the  United  States, 
and  speaks  English  fairly  well.  He  expressed  to  me 
his  intention  of  shortly  visiting  England  in  order  to 
study  military  matters,  and  "  to  see  a  country  of  which 
he  had  always  heard  great  accounts,  and  for  which  he 
entertained  a  profound  admiration." 

The  streets  of  La  Libertad  are  mostly  paved  with 
hewn  stones,  and  the  whole  place,  consisting  of  but 
700  or  800  inhabitants,  is  kept  in  excellent  sanitary 
order.  A  market  is  held  here  every  week,  and  a  con- 
siderable amount  of  local  trade  is  carried  on  from  day 
to  day.  The  extensive  warehouses  and  Customs  sheds 
are  also  well  filled  with  foreign  goods  received  from 
different  ports  of  Europe  and  the  United  States  ;  but 
while  as  many  as  three  or  four  ships  call  there  every 


LA  LIBERTAD 

week,  I  understand  that  these  do  not  include  any 
British  bottoms  other  than  the  steamer  Salvador, 
belonging  to  the  Salvador  Railway  Company.  The 
Comandante  informed  me  that  during  the  two  years 
that  he  had  been  in  La  Libertad  he  had  not  seen 
another  British  vessel  at  the  Port,  the  vessels  calling 
there  being  either  American,  German  or  French. 

A  large  amount  of  coffee  is  exported  from  La  Libertad, 
the  bags  arriving  out-bound  from  San  Salvador,  the 
capital,  which  is  only  eight  leagues  (about  twenty-four 
miles)  distant,  and  the  journey  usually  being  per- 
formed in  a  day  and  a  half  by  ox-waggon,  or  in  three 
or  four  hours  on  mule-back. 

Between  the  Capital  and  the  Port  are  situated  two 
towns — Zaragosa  and  Santa  Tecla — both  of  some  im- 
portance. Around  both  also  are  located  many  coffee 
and  sugar  fincas,  such  as  that  of  La  Laguna,  near  San 
Salvador,  the  property  of  Herr  Fe'dor  Deininger,  of 
whom  I  have  made  mention  elsewhere  in  this  volume, 
and  who  is  one  of  the  wealthiest,  as  well  as  one  of  the 
most  enterprising,  coffee-planters  and  sugar-manufac- 
turers living  in  Salvador. 

La  Libertad  possesses  a  strong  and  well-designed 
iron  pier,  some  450  feet  in  length,  with  two  large 
covered  warehouses,  steam-cranes,  and  all  the  neces- 
sary apparatus  for  loading  and  unloading  lighters. 
There  is  a  double  set  of  rails  running  from  the  pit-head 
to  the  Customs-house,  and  a  fair  equipment  of  flat- 
cars  and  platforms- cars.  The  warehouses  are  kept 
scrupulously  clean  and  airy,  everything  being  main- 
tained in  admirable  working  condition. 

The  pier  and  the  wharf  were  constructed  by  a  local 
company  some  forty  years  ago,  and  the  concession 
which  covered  that  period  having  only  expired  last 

15 


SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

year  (1910),  the  pier  and  everything  connected  with 
it  have  now  become  the  property  of  the  Salvadorean 
Government.  It  is  not  intended,  however,  to  make 
any  additions  or  alterations  to  the  structure,  which  is 
in  all  respects  equal  to  the  port's  requirements  at  the 
present  time.  In  all  probability  La  Libertad  will  not 
much  increase  in  importance  as  a  port,  in  view  of  the 
extensions  at  Triunfo  and  at  Acajutla,  which  already 
possesses  a  railway  to  the  Capital,  and  of  La  Uni6n, 
which  ere  long  will  also  have  one  to  the  interior  of 
the  Republic. 

La  Libertad  must  nevertheless  always  count  as  of 
some  consequence,  if  only  on  account  of  its  being  the 
one  cable-station  in  the  Republic  of  Salvador,  and 
which  serves  at  the  same  time  as  a  receiving-station 
for  Costa  Rica,  the  one  Central  American  Republic 
which  has  no  cable-station  of  its  own.  La  Libertad 
shares  with  Col6n  the  monopoly  of  despatching  and 
receiving  all  the  cable-messages  from  Central  America 
and  the  United  States.  Its  cable  extends  to  Salina 
Cruz,  in  Mexico,  messages  being  thence  transmitted 
to  Galveston,  U.S.A.  La  Libertad's  cable,  although 
in  constant  use,  is  regarded  more  as  a  "  stand-by  "  in 
the  event  of  a  breakdown  on  the  Panama  line,  an 
eventuality  of  by  no  means  infrequent  occurrence, 
especially  in  time  of  political  trouble  and  when  the 
fierce  Atlantic  storms  prevail.  A  full  equipment  is 
therefore  always  maintained,  although  the  active  staff 
employed  consists  of  but  two  individuals — Mr.  A.  H. 
Hooper,  an  American  of  great  linguistic  ability  and 
remarkable  literary  judgment,  and  a  young  Danish 
telegraphist,  Fe*dor  Michaelson.  Both  officials  are  ex- 
pert instrument-operators,  and  in  depending  upon  the 
La  Libertad  station  as  a  substitute  or  a  "  stand-by," 


CABLE  STATION  227 

the  Cable  Company  are  leaning  upon  no  hollow  reed. 
Messrs.  Hooper  and  Michaelson  are  highly  competent 
officers,  the  latter,  indeed,  being  one  of  the  quickest 
and  most  accurate  operators  that  I  have  met  with  in 
any  part  of  the  world. 

In  La  Libertad  a  number  of  press  and  Government 
messages  from  all  parts  of  the  world  are  received 
every  day,  and  sometimes  almost  all  day.  The  instru- 
ments used  include  Muirhead's  automatic  transmitter, 
which  will  send  200  letters  per  minute,  and  Sir 
William  Thompson's  patent  recorder,  as  well  as  a 
complete  fault-finding  apparatus,  which  enables  the 
officials  to  at  once  trace  the  seat  of  any  breakdown 
which  may  occur  to  the  cable,  and  thus  despatch  the 
repair-ship  to  the  necessary  spot.  While  visiting  the 
La  Libertad  cable-station,  I  witnessed  several  messages 
being  despatched  and  received  (and  actually  corre- 
sponded with  Salina  Cruz,  Mexico),  the  average  speed 
being  a  little  over  fifty  words  in  three  minutes,  or,  say, 
seventeen  words  a  minute  received  and  recorded. 

At  this  cable-station  above  mentioned,  a  service  of 
cablegrams  received  for  the  Salvadorean  Government 
averages  2,000  words  a  day.  The  service  is  supplied 
free  of  all  charge  by  the  Government  to  the  Salvador 
newspapers,  and  is  greatly  appreciated  by  the  reading 
public.  The  source  of  supply  is  New  York,  and  the 
Correspondent  responsible  is  the  New  York  Corre- 
spondent of  La  Prensa,  the  great  Argentine  daily 
newspaper,  which  enjoys  the  proud  position  of  possess- 
ing the  most  palatial  offices  of  any  newspaper  in  the 
world.  The  news-cables  are  very  informative,  and 
are  at  the  same  time  commendably  free  from  political 
bias  or  personal  opinions — a  rare  recommendation 
indeed,  considering  the  land  of  their  origin. 


CHAPTER  XVII 

Agriculture — Government  support  and  supervision — Annual  productions 
— Agricultural  schools — Cattle-breeding — Coffee — Sugar — Tobacco — 
Forestry — Bice — Beans — Cacao — Balsam — Treatment  by  natives. 

IT  is  only  natural,  in  a  country  where  agriculture 
forms  one  of  the  most  important  sources  of  revenue, 
that  the  Government  should  have  directed  its  par- 
ticular attention  to  the  supervision  and  control  of  the 
industry.  The  Land  Law  of  Salvador  consists  of  no 
fewer  than  245  separate  articles,  which  are  contained 
under  eight  different  "  titles,"  as  follows  :  Title  I. : 
Concerning  the  government  and  control  of  the  industry, 
and  which  contains  six  chapters  ;  Title  II.  :  Con- 
cerning persons  who  devote  themselves  to  agricultural 
industry,  containing  five  chapters ;  Title  III. :  Con- 
cerning rural  property,  which  contains  four  chapters  ; 
Title  IV. :  Concerning  live-stock  and  game,  consisting 
of  four  chapters  ;  Title  V. :  Concerning  public  roads, 
containing  but  one  chapter  ;  Title  VI. :  Forest  culture, 
containing  three  chapters  :  Title  VII.  :  Water  for 
public  use,  containing  two  chapters  ;  Title  VIII.  : 
Concerning  administrative  justice  and  guarantees 
afforded  to  rural  property,  consisting  of  two  chapters. 
This  Land  Law  is  a  model  of  common  sense,  and 
shows  evidence  of  much  ability  in  construction ;  it 
might  well  serve  as  a  model  for  similar  executive 
ordinances  in  other  countries,  not  excepting  that  of 

228 


AGRICULTURAL  MATTERS 

Great  Britain,  where  agricultural  legislation  and 
Governmental  assistance  are  sorely  needed. 

The  Government  of  Salvador  exercises  its  control 
over  all  agricultural  matters,  firstly  by  the  Executive, 
through  the  medium  of  the  Department  of  the  In- 
terior ;  secondly,  through  an  Agricultural  Board ; 
thirdly,  through  Departmental  Governors,  who  are 
assisted  by  Local  Boards  ;  fourthly,  through  munici- 
palities, with  their  Mayors  and  Agricultural  Com- 
mittees ;  and,  fifthly,  through  the  services  of  Rural 
Inspectors,  Special  Assistants,  and  Commissioners. 
It  is  to  be  observed  that  the  Land  Law  of  Salvador, 
while  of  an  administrative  character,  leaves  in  force 
the  Civil  Code  of  Civil  Procedure,  even  in  those 
questions  especially  relating  to  rural  property,  without 
prejudice  to  the  few  provisions  relating  to  these  codes, 
and  which  can  be  regarded  as  additional  or  modifyiisjg 
provisions. 

The  annual  amount  of  agricultural  produce  exported 
from  the  Republic  of  Salvador  may  be  put  as  follows  : 
Coffee,  30,000  tons  ;  Sugar,  70,000  cwt.  ;  Rubber, 
500  cwt. ;  Balsam,  1,300  cwt.  These  figures,  however, 
are  exclusive  of  the  considerable  amounts  of  each  com- 
modity consumed  in  the  country,  and  which  likewise 
comprise  large  quantities  of  cereals,  such  as  corn, 
beans,  rice,  wheat,  etc.  The  Government  is  encouraging 
the  cultivation  of  henequen,  or  Sisal  agave,  as  well  as 
cotton,  maize,  and  other  useful  plants,  which  will 
figure  to  some  degree  in  future  returns  from  the 
Department  of  Agriculture. 

The  Ministry  of  Agriculture  and  the  Councils  and 
Committees  of  the  Department,  besides  contributing 
to  the  development  and  increase  of  agriculture,  also 
assist  the  scientific  improvement  of  the  crops,  cir- 


230    SALVADOR  OP  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

culating  among  cultivators  all  those  provisions  which 
they  judge  to  be  opportune,  and  as  likely  to  conduce 
to  the  prosperity  of  the  industry.  A  step  in  the  path 
of  agricultural  progress  is  the  creation  and  mainte- 
nance of  the  School  of  Agronomy,  which  is  carried  on 
upon  a  plantation  of  some  200  manzanas  in  extent, 
where  there  is  water  in  abundance.  The  farm  is 
located  between  the  cities  of  Sonsonate  and  Izalco,  and 
lies  at  450  metres  elevation  above  the  level  of  the  sea. 
The  school  building  is  constructed  on  a  tableland, 
which  occupies  the  most  elevated  part  of  the  planta- 
tion, and  consists  of  all  the  usual  departments  con- 
sidered to  be  indispensable  for  an  establishment  of  its 
kind.  It  possesses  laboratories  for  the  study  of,  and  ex- 
periments in,  chemistry  and  botany,  and  a  small  model 
dairy,  provided  with  all  the  necessary  apparatus, 
instruments,  and  tools.  The  total  cost  of  the  institu- 
tion and  its  equipment  amounted  to  $64,498.19.  It 
was  inaugurated  on  June  4,  1907,  and  in  the  month 
of  September  of  the  same  year  student  classes  were 
opened,  and  they  have  since  been  maintained,  under  the 
direction  of  the  Agronomical  Engineer,  Don  Felix 
Choussy,  without  interruption.  This  school  ranks  as 
one  of  the  most  pronounced  successes  which  the 
Government  of  the  Republic  has  achieved. 

It  would  be  difficult  to  find  any  locality  in  South 
America,  not  excepting  the  Argentine  Republic  or 
Uruguay,  where  the  breeding  of  cattle  could  be  engaged 
in,  nor  where  finer  butcher's  meat  can  be  grown  more 
successfully,  than  upon  the  magnificent  pastoral  ranges 
of  Salvador.  Cattle  are  not  only  abundant,  but  they 
seem  to  thrive  with  practically  little  or  no  attention. 
The  meat  secured  is  of  a  delicious  and  firm  nature, 
but,  unfortunately,  as  in  all  tropical  countries,  it  must 


A  SCARCITY  OF  SHEEP 

be  cooked  and  eaten  the  same  day  that  the  animal  is 
killed.  The  natives  do  not  deem  this  any  objection  ; 
but  Europeans,  who  are  accustomed  to  the  taste  of 
tender  and  juicy  meats,  do  not  so  generally  approve. 
The  price  of  beef  is  moderate  in  extreme,  and  it  can 
be  found  on  sale  in  the  markets  all  the  year  round. 

Sheep  are  somewhat  scarce,  and  they  do  not  appear 
to  thrive  here  as  they  do  in  some  parts  of  Mexico  or  in 
Argentina.  I  should  not  consider  Salvador  a  good 
sheep-country,  and  the  breed  is  not  in  any  way 
encouraged.  Possibly  the  heat  of  the  plains  is  a  bar 
to  any  great  success  attending  the  raising  of  these 
animals,  while,  on  the  other  hand,  mutton  is  not  a 
popular  diet  with  the  people,  who  are  not  in  any  case 
very  heavy  meat-consumers.  On  the  great  majority 
of  small  estates,  and  even  among  the  poorest  of  the 
people,  hogs  are  very  largely  bred,  and  some  fine 
specimens  are  to  be  met  with.  Among  poultry,  fowls 
and  turkeys,  again,  are  numerous,  and  generally  of 
excellent  quality,  large  and  plump  birds  being  obtain- 
able for  very  moderate  prices  at  all  times.  In  this 
case  also  it  is  customary  to  cook  and  consume  the 
birds  a  few  hours  after  they  have  been  killed,  so  that 
a  tender  fowl  is  not  often  met  with.  I  noticed  but  few 
ducks  or  geese,  and  the  latter  birds  may  be  regarded 
as  somewhat  of  a  rarity.  Quantities  of  wild-fowl, 
however,  find  their  way  to  the  market,  and  there  they 
fetch  moderately  good  prices.  Immense  flocks  of 
duck  are  found  at  certain  seasons  of  the  year  feeding 
and  breeding  upon  the  many  inland  lakes,  and  they 
afford  excellent  sport  to  the  few  guns  which  break  in 
upon  their  almost  undisturbed  repose.  These  quiet 
and  peaceful  lagoons,  in  their  entrancing  scenic  sur- 
roundings, form  an  ideal  spot  for  the  sportsman,  since 


SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

they  would  be  found  an  almost  untouched  field  for  his 
amusement. 

Salvador,  from  the  conformation  of  its  surface  and 
the  nature  of  its  soil,  is  essentially  an  agricultural 
State.  The  basin  of  the  River  San  Miguel,  that  of 
Sonsonate,  and  the  valley  proper  of  the  Lempa,  no  less 
than  the  alluvians  bordering  on  the  Pacific,  are  of  an 
extraordinarily  fertile  character  and  especially  adap- 
table for  the  production  of  tropical  staples.  Around  the 
Bay  of  Jiquilisco  and  the  port  of  La  Libertad,  cotton 
has  been  cultivated  with  success  for  the  last  sixty  years, 
but  it  is  only  up  to  within  comparatively  recent  years 
that  the  principal  products  of  the  State  have  included 
indigo,  sugar  and  maize.  In  many  respects  the  State 
of  Salvador  differs  agriculturally  from  the  South  and 
other  Central  American  Republics.  In  the  first  place, 
there  is  but  little  unappropriated  land  to  be  found  in 
it,  nearly  the  whole  being  the  property  of  private 
individuals  ;  secondly,  the  people  are  active  and  intelli- 
gent— naturally  so,  and  not  merely  by  education  ;  they 
are  unquestionably  industrious.  Certainly  they  are 
the  best  cultivators  in  Central  America  ;  and  under 
favourable  circumstances — that  is  to  say,  during  periods 
of  political  tranquillity — they  can  find  abundant  em- 
ployment for  their  labour. 

Indigo,  or,  to  give  it  its  native  name,  "  jiquilite,"  for 
long  constituted  the  chief  article  in  the  exports  of  the 
country,  but  in  point  of  importance  it  has  had  to  give 
place  to  coffee.  Indigo  is  found  in  practically  all  parts 
of  Salvador,  but  especially  in  the  districts  of  Zacate- 
coluca  and  San  Miguel,  and  some  idea  may  be  obtained 
of  the  great  space  of  ground  which  is,  or  rather  which 
used  to  be,  appropriated  to  indigo,  when  it  is  stated 
that  it  takes  about  2  cwt.  of  the  green  plant  to  yield 


NATIVE  HABITATION  IN  THE  HOT  COUNTRY. 


NATIVE  MAKING  SUGAR  FROM  A  PRIMITIVE  WOODEN  MILL. 


INDIGO  233 

8,  10  or  12  ounces  of  indigo ;  on  the  land  which  is 
found  most  suitable  to  it,  12  ounces  are  seldom  ex- 
ceeded, but  there  are  records  which  show  that  in 
favourable  seasons,  upon  taking  an  average  of  five 
years,  upwards  of  12,000  serrones  (1  serron=150 
pounds)  have  been  produced  in  the  entire  Republic. 
A  quantity  such  as  this,  in  former  times,  would  be 
valued  at  $3,000,000  in  the  European  markets  ;  but  as 
long  ago  as  the  year  1850  the  value  of  the  product  had 
become  greatly  reduced,  and  it  would  not  even  then 
have  realized  one -half  that  sum.  To-day,  when 
aniline  dyes  take  the  place  of  indigo,  it  would  be 
difficult  to  place  anything  like  an  accurate  price  upon 
such  an  amount  of  produce,  nor  to  suppose  that  it 
would  be  marketable  at  all.  How  much  the  production 
has  fallen  off  in  later  years  can  be  seen  when  it  is  said 
that  the  total  amount  produced  in  1891  was  only 
7,889  serrones,  and  in  the  year  following,  9,587 
serrones. 

Indigo  is  produced  from  an  indigenous  triennial 
plant,  Indigofera  Anil,  which  is  its  botanical  name,  and 
the  plant  flourishes  luxuriously  upon  nearly  all  kinds 
of  soil.  The  land  requires  comparatively  little  prep- 
aration, being  merely  burnt  and  slightly  ploughed. 
The  seed,  which  is  scattered  broadcast,  is  sown  in  the 
months  of  February  and  April,  and  the  growth  of  the 
plant  is  so  rapid  that  by  the  end  of  August  it  has 
attained  a  height  of  from  5  to  6  feet,  and  is  then  fit  for 
cutting.  The  product  of  the  first  year  is  but  moderate, 
and  it  is  at  this  stage  called  "  tinta  nueva,"  the  strength 
being  reserved  for  the  second  and  third  years,  when 
the  prodiict  is  known  as  "  tinta  retofio."  When  the 
crop  is  ripe,  the  process  of  manufacture  is  carried  on 
daily  without  interruption  until  the  whole  of  the  crop 


234    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

is  garnered.  Just  as  the  plant  requires  little  attention 
and  no  skill,  so  the  manufacture  of  the  indigo  calls  for 
neither  a  very  difficult  nor  any  expensive  process  ;  all 
that  it  needs  is  that  it  be  cut  promptly  and  at  the 
proper  period,  otherwise  it  becomes  worthless.  This 
means  that  the  proprietors  of  the  larger  estates  must 
have  an  ample  and  a  reliable  supply  of  labour  at  hand, 
which  desideratum  cannot  be  implicitly  relied  upon  in 
the  present  condition  of  the  market. 

Next  to  indigo,  coffee  ranks  second  in  importance  in 
the  country's  agricultural  products  ;  the  very  finest 
berry  is  grown  in  the  Republic.  It  may  be  found  in 
practically  all  parts,  wherever  the  land  rises  between 
1,500  and  4,000  feet  above  sea-level.  The  choicest 
and  most  productive  plantations  are  located  in 
the  Departments  of  Ahuachapan,  La  Libertad,  San 
Salvador,  San  Vicente,  Santa  Ana  and  Sonsonate.  The 
berry  is  also  grown  in  Usulutan,  La  Paz  and  Cuscatlan, 
many  hundreds  of  thousands  of  additional  trees 
having  been  planted  throughout  this  part  of  the 
country  during  the  past  two  or  three  years. 

The  coffee-tree  is  a  tender  shrub,  and  needs  careful 
attending  and  protection  from  the  sun  from  the  time 
of  planting,  and  even  for  a  lengthy  period  after  it  has 
begun  to  produce  crops.  It  required  a  great  many 
years  to  convince  the  cautious  inhabitants  of  Salvador 
that  there  was  money  to  be  made  in  growing  coffee, 
and  up  till  some  fifty  years  ago  little  attention  was  paid 
to  the  industry,  since  few  opportunities  existed  for  dis- 
posing promptly  of  a  whole  crop.  The  stimulus  which 
latter-day  transportation  offers  was  wanting,  as  was  the 
world-wide  demand  for  the  coffee-berry  which  has  since 
been  met  with.  Since  the  industry  was  first  seriously 
entered  upon,  the  resources  of  the  State  have  been 


SUGAR-CANE  235 

greatly  augmented,  and  the  welfare  of  a  large  labour- 
ing class  has  correspondingly  increased. 

I  was  informed  upon  one  estate,  or  finca,  that  the 
trees  in  Salvador  were  sufficiently  matured  when  three 
years  old  to  produce  a  fair  crop,  and  that  this  yield 
continued  to  increase  until  the  seventh  year,  when  it 
reached  its  maximum.  It  is  calculated  that  the  outlay 
for  labour  and  expenses  in  producing  coffee  amounts 
to  between  2^d.  to  3d.  per  pound,  while  the  retail 
price  varies  from  5d.  to  Is.  It  may  be  taken,  on  an 
average,  that  one-half  of  the  annual  crop  is  consumed 
in  the  country,  and  that  the  remainder  is  exported. 
There  is  a  general  opinion  prevalent  among  experts 
that  Salvadorean  coffee  is  superior  in  quality  to  that 
of  Brazil,  or  even  to  the  Blue  Mountain  (Jamaica) 
berry ;  while  as  to  the  pre-eminence  of  the  aroma  over 
both  of  these  rivals  there  can  be  no  question  whatever. 

Sugar-cane  growing  is  an  industry  for  which  the 
genial  climate  and  the  bounteous  soil  of  Salvador  are 
admirably  adapted,  and  the  cane  is  cultivated  to  a 
greater  or  less  extent  in  all  of  the  fourteen  different 
Departments.  As  I  have  pointed  out  in  another  part 
of  this  volume,  when  describing  sugar  machinery  (see 
Chapter  XII.),  there  is  a  great  need  of  improved  equip- 
ment, which,  were  it  provided,  would  probably  serve 
to  double,  and  even  in  some  cases  to  treble,  the  amount 
of  this  particular  product.  But  even  with  the  imper- 
fect reduction  work  which  is  carried  out  upon  nine- 
tenths  of  the  fincas,  sugar  is  produced  to  such  an 
extent  as  not  only  to  abundantly  supply  the  home 
requirements,  but  to  provide  a  considerable  share  of 
the  country's  exports.  The  greater  part  of  the  sugar 
used  in  the  country  is  turned  out  in  the  shape  of  small 
blocks  or  cakes,  weighing  about  2  pounds  each,  and 


236    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

bearing  the  name  of  panda,  similar  to  that  produced 
in  Brazil  and  Mexico.  A  large  quantity  of  this  stuff, 
which  looks  and  tastes  very  much  like  toffee,  while  it 
also  resembles  the  maple  sugar  of  North  America, 
is  used  in  the  manufacture  of  native  rum.  Conical- 
shaped  loaves  of  compact  white  sugar,  weighing  from 
25  to  40  pounds  each,  are  also  manufactured,  but  are 
mostly  made  for  export. 

In  the  "  golden  days "  of  California,  the  greater 
part  of  the  rum  which  was  consumed  upon  the  gold- 
fields  came  from  Sonsonate  in  Salvador,  being  packed 
in  14  and  15  gallon  casks  and  greybeards  of  from 
3  to  6  gallons,  suitable  for  easy  transport  to  the 
Californian  diggings. 

For  some  years  past  Salvador  has  been  gaining  a 
reputation  for  the  excellent  quality  of  its  tobacco,  and 
there  are  several  manufactories  established  in  the 
Republic,  which  are  doing  remarkably  well.  One  of 
the  best  known  for  cigars  is  that  of  Senora  Josefa 
B.  de  Diaz,  the  amiable  proprietress  of  the  Hotel 
America,  at  Cojutepeque. 

Half  a  century  ago  Salvador  was  exporting  tobacco 
to  Mexico,  and  had  been  doing  a  fair  amount  of  trade 
with  that  country  even  in  the  time  of  the  Spanish 
dominion.  The  tobacco  production  collectively  in  all 
the  provinces  of  the  Republic  yield  a  net  revenue  to 
the  Government  of  more  than  £500,000  annually  ;  but 
the  method  of  administering  and  collecting  the  taxes 
in  former  times  helped  as  much  as  anything  else  to 
retard  the  industry.  For  instance,  under  the  old 
regime  a  general  system  was  subscribed,  and  scrupu- 
lously adhered  to,  which  precluded  people  from  raising 
tobacco,  except  when  they  should  obtain  a  licence  to 
do  so  from  the  authorities  ;  and  the  growers,  under 


TOBACCO  237 

one  of  the  many  irritating  conditions  attached  to  the 
official  permission,  were  bound  to  deliver  the  entire 
crop,  after  it  had  been  dried  and  prepared,  into  the 
Government  factories  at  a  stipulated  rate  per  pound  ; 
it  was  then  retailed  to  the  community  at  a  fixed  price, 
and  yielded  the  substantial  revenue  referred  to.  Later 
on  each  province  passed  its  own  laws  for  regulating  this 
branch  of  the  public  income,  and,  inasmuch  as  these 
laws  were  neither  uniform  nor  permanent,  great  con- 
fusion prevailed  and  much  loss  was  incurred,  while 
an  immense  amount  of  smuggling  went  on,  as  may 
well  be  believed. 

The  Government  of  Salvador  of  recent  years  has 
adopted  quite  different  methods,  and  has  done  much 
to  encourage  the  industry,  such,  for  instance,  as  im- 
porting tobacco-seed  and  distributing  it  gratis  among 
cultivators,  with  the  idea  of  promoting  the  culture  of 
the  plant ;  while  at  the  same  time  it  has  imported 
native  cultivators  from  Cuba  for  the  purpose  of  teach- 
ing the  method  of  growing  and  working  the  tobacco 
as  practised  on  that  island.  In  spite  of  this  free  and 
valuable  instruction,  I  am  afraid  that  the  methods  of 
handling  the  tobacco  in  Salvador  are  often  found  to 
be  decidedly  primitive,  the  growers  allowing  the  leaves 
to  dry  in  the  sun  without  detaching  them  from  the 
stalks,  the  latter  being  cut  a  few  inches  above  the 
ground.  They  are  then  piled  in  stacks  from  6  to 
9  feet  in  diameter  and  from  3  to  4  feet  in  height, 
heavy  weights  being  placed  on  the  top,  and  the  whole 
covered  over  with  a  thick  layer  of  banana  leaves. 
Fermentation  then  ensues,  and  by  this  action  the 
colour  and  aroma  of  the  leaves  are  brought  out. 
Only  by  guesswork  is  it  decided  when  the  process  is 
complete,  and  the  tobacco  is  then  taken  from  the 


238    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

stack,  exposed  for  a  short  time  to  the  air,  whereafter 
the  leaves  are  detached  from  the  stalks,  sorted,  and 
tied  into  bundles,  and  then  sent  to  market.  It  will  be 
recognized  that  the  choiceness  of  the  tobacco  and  its 
excellent  quality  must  be  very  high  when  theyFcan 
withstand  successfully  such  a  crude  treatment  as  this. 
How  much  more  valuable  might  the  plant's  product 
become  as  a  commodity,  and  how  much  higher  would 
be  the  revenue  yielded,  were  modern  methods  of  treat- 
ing the  leaf  to  be  introduced  ! 

In  some  sections  of  Salvador  tobacco-growers  have 
resorted  to  an  ingenious  method  of  ridding  the  tobacco- 
leaves  of  destructive  insects  and  worms  that  feed  upon 
the  tender  young  plants  at  certain  periods  of  their 
development.  A  kind  of  turkey,  known  locally  under 
the  name  of  "  chompipe,"  a  bird  which  was  brought 
originally  from  the  West  Indies,  and  is  capable  of  being 
easily  domesticated,  is  kept  in  flocks  of  considerable 
size  in  the  vicinity  of  the  tobacco-fields,  and  at  certain 
hours  of  the  day  these  are  driven  through  the  fields  in 
order  to  rid  the  tobacco-plants  of  worms  and  insects. 

These  turkeys  do  their  work  so  well  that  the  smallest 
insect  fails  to  escape  them,  and  yet  they  pick  them  off 
with  such  care  that  the  tender  leaves  remain  free  from 
injury.  Without  the  use  of  these  fowls,  labourers 
must  be  employed  to  go  through  the  fields  at  stated 
intervals  to  pick  off  the  insects  and  worms  from  the 
leaves  ;  and  this  method,  aside  from  being  tedious  and 
unsatisfactory,  often  damages  the  leaves  through  rough 
handling,  causing  defective  development  and  a  reduc- 
tion of  their  value  as  a  marketable  product. 

I  found,  in  my  travels  through  the  country,  other 
classes  of  agriculture  being  pursued  besides  those 
which  have  been  mentioned.  For  instance,  india- 


RUBBER-GROWING  239 

rubber  is  a  distinctly  profitable  branch,  in  spite  of 
the  primitive  methods  pursued  in  collecting  it,  and 
which  are  still,  for  the  most  part,  in  vogue.  The 
Government  has  made  many  earnest  efforts  to  im- 
prove conditions  and  to  teach  the  people  how  to  both 
cultivate  and  to  collect  the  precious  material,  but  it 
is  not  possible  to  congratulate  those  who  pursue  the 
industry  upon  the  amount  of  success  attained.  I  have 
been  shown  the  extensive  forests  of  promising-looking 
rubber-trees  growing  in  the  provinces  of  La  Paz, 
La  Uni6n,  San  Miguel,  and  Usulutdn ;  but  when  I 
inquired  into  the  methods  followed  by  those  who  are 
employed  in  collecting  the  gum,  I  found  the  most 
wasteful  system  in  force,  and  the  work  generally  con- 
ducted in  a  desultory,  indifferent  manner,  with  the 
result  that  it  hardly  paid  to  follow  the  occupation  at 
all.  Under  properly  organized  labour  and  systemat- 
ically managed,  rubber-growing  ought  to,  and  no  doubt 
one  day  will,  become  a  valuable  feature  of  the  country's 
industries. 

Then,  again,  rice  is  cultivated,  but  not  at  all  scien- 
tifically. Nevertheless  some  fairly  good  crops  are 
annually  gathered  in,  mostly  of  the  upland  variety, 
and  grown  upon  the  tablelands  and  hillsides.  Very 
little  rice,  comparatively  speaking,  is  exported,  the 
greater  part  of  that  produced  being  consumed  locally. 
Some  of  the  neighbouring  Republics  take  a  small 
quantity  of  the  grain  from  Salvador,  but  as  a  rule 
these  States  grow  their  own  supplies,  and  need  but 
little  importation.  It  seems  a  great  pity  that,  with 
land  so  eminently  suitable  for  rice  cultivation,  so  little 
— and  that  little  of  such  poor  quality — should  be 
annually  produced  in  Salvador. 

Cacao  is  one  of  the  leading  products  of  this  much- 


240    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

favoured  country,  and  it  can  be  found  growing  more 
luxuriantly  in  Salvador  than  in  any  of  the  Central 
American  States.  Very  little  attention  is  given,  how- 
ever, to  the  method  of  cultivation,  in  spite  of  the  fact 
that  cacao  is  one  of  the  oldest  agricultural  specialities 
of  this  country.  History  shows  that  at  one  time 
Sonsonate  and  San  Vicente  were  famous  alike  for 
the  quantity  and  the  excellence  of  the  cacao  grown 
there.  Such  plants  as  are  cultivated  now  are  utilized 
almost  entirely  in  the  country  in  the  manufacture  of 
chocolate,  etc.,  and  this  product  figures  but  insignifi- 
cantly among  the  country's  exports. 

Beans  —  known  here,  as  in  all  Latin  -  American 
countries,  as  frijoles — form  a  large  proportion  of  the 
humbler  people's  daily  diet.  They  are  large,  brown, 
and  flat  in  appearance,  very  nourishing,  and  very 
palatable  when  properly  cooked.  They  are  grown  all 
over  the  Republic,  and  seem  to  flourish  even  in  poor- 
quality  soil.  Indian  corn,  or  maize,  wheat,  potatoes, 
sweet-potatoes,  yams,  and  other  vegetables  in  great 
variety,  flourish  here,  and  one  is  reminded  of  a  famous 
cultivator's  exordium  upon  the  merits  of  Jamaica  : 
^g"  You  have,"  said  he,  "  but  to  tickle  the  ground  with 
V  a  hoe,  and  it  at  once  smiles  a  yam." 

Except  in  Brazil,  which  probably  stands  unrivalled 
among  the  South  American  States  as  a  precious-wood- 
yielding  country,  I  know  of  no  State  possessing  finer 
timber  forests  than  Salvador.  I  have  ridden  mile 
upon  mile  through  magnificent  timber-tree  lands— 
the  cedar,  the  mahogany,  the  ebony,  the  granadilla, 
and  many  other  valuable  cabinet  woods  ;  but  upon 
inquiry  as  to  what  is  being  done  with  all  this  precious 
material  provided  by  a  bountiful  Nature,  I  was  in- 
formed that  it  is  rarely  marketed,  although  it  is  cut 


NATIVE  WOODS 

occasionally  for  local  building  purposes.  Many  of 
the  larger  private  houses  and  public  buildings  in  San 
Salvador  are  constructed  of  native  woods,  and  one 
is  struck  with  the  beauty  of  their  grain  and  their 
extreme  hardness,  while  they  will  mostly  take  on  a 
high  polish.  In  the  lowlands  there  is  an  extremely 
large  variety  of  dye  woods  to  be  met  with  ;  but  here, 
again,  the  great  forests  are  left  almost  untouched, 
many  of  them  being  as  trackless  as  the  day  that  they 
came  into  being.  The  only  tree  among  these  latter  of 
which  use  is  made  is  the  mora,  or  fustic  of  commerce. 
The  pine-forests  are  also  just  beginning  to  be  ex- 
ploited, and  one  or  two  successful  lumber  enterprises 
have  been  started.  The  Salvadorean  forest  pine  is 
fully  equal  in  durability,  in  quality,  and  in  appearance, 
to  the  Southern  States  ceiba  and  other  pine-woods. 

The  pride  of  place  in  the  forestry  of  the  Republic 
belongs  to  the  beautiful  and  valuable  balsam-tree — 
the  Myrospermum  Salvatoriensis  —  yielding  what  is 
known  to  the  Materia  Medica  as  "  balsam  of  Peru." 
The  Indian  appellation  for  it  is  hoitzilixitl.  Why  is 
it  called  "balsam  of  Peru"  if  it  is  the  "balsam  of 
Salvador  "?  I  am  told,  because  the  precious  gum  was 
exported  as  an  article  of  commerce  to  Peru  from  Sal- 
vador in  the  early  days  of  the  Spanish  Dominion,  and 
thence  found  its  way  to  Europe.  As  a  matter  of  fact, 
it  is  to  be  found  growing  in  no  country  of  the  world 
but  Salvador,  and  there  in  only  a  few  parts  of  it.  "  La 
Costa  del  Balsamo  "  is  to  be  seen  marked  upon  any 
map  of  Central  America,  lying  to  the  seaward  of  the 
great  volcanic  range  of  mountains  ;  and  here  it  is  that 
the  trees  are  met  with,  standing  together  in  so  close  a 
mass  that  the  daylight  seldom  enters,  and  sunlight 
never.  The  whole  district  is  inhabited  by  Indians, 

id 


SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

who  have  come  to  regard  the  place  as  their  own 
undisputed  territory.  They  live  entirely  upon  the 
product  of  the  balsam-tree,  hewing  down  huge  planks 
of  this  and  other  woods,  which  they  market  to  great 
advantage.  The  balsam  is  their  main  source  of 
wealth,  however  ;  and  although  to-day  the  annual 
product  falls  short  of  what  was  realized,  say,  half  a 
century  ago,  it  still  figures  very  largely  in  the  annual 
exports  of  the  country.  Strangely  enough,  the  tree 
cannot  be  cultivated  in  any  other  part  of  Salvador, 
although  the  climatic  conditions,  the  soil,  and  the 
physical  characteristics,  may  be  found  suitable.  Similar 
experiences  are  found  in  Jamaica,  where  the  pimento- 
tree  is  to  be  met  with  in  one  particular  locality  only, 
and  nowhere  else,  even  careful  planting  proving  quite 
useless  to  alter  or  improve  upon  the  conditions  which 
have  been  dictated  by  Nature. 

The  Indian  gatherers  obtain  the  balsam  from  the 
tree  by  scraping  the  skin  of  the  bark  to  the  depth  of 
one-tenth  part  of  an  inch,  using  for  the  purpose  a 
sharp  native  knife,  or  machete.  This  scraping  is  done 
in  small  patches,  extending  to  12  or  15  inches  square, 
the  incisions  being  made  both  across  and  along  the 
trunk  and  the  largest  branches  of  the  tree.  Immedi- 
ately after  the  operation  of  scratching  is  completed, 
the  portions  scraped  are  heated  with  burning  torches, 
which  are  made  out  of  the  dried  branches  of  a  tree 
known  locally  as  chimaliote ;  and  after  burning  the 
surfaces  are  covered  over  with  pieces  of  old  cotton 
cloth,  under  which  they  are  left  for  a  time.  By 
punching  the  edges  of  the  cloths  pressed  against 
the  tree  with  the  point  of  the  machete,  they  are  made 
to  adhere.  In  this  condition  they  are  again  left  for 
a  space  of  twenty-four  hours,  and  even  as  long  as 


A  STREET  IN  SONSONATE  (CALLE  DE  MERCADO). 


TYPE   OF  "QlTINTA"OR   COUNTRY    HOUSE    IN    SANTA    TECLA    (NEW    SAN    SALVADOR.) 


BALSAM 

forty-eight  hours  (especially  in  the  month  of  January), 
when  the  rags  are  gathered  and  submitted  to  a  strong 
and  hot  decoction  in  big  iron  pots.  While  still  hot 
the  rags  are  put  under  a  great  pressure  in  a  primitive 
kind  of  machine,  which  is  made  by  the  Indians  them- 
selves, and  composed  of  a  combination  of  wooden 
levers  and  strong  ropes,  worked  entirely  by  hand. 
The  balsam  juice  then  oozes  out,  and  drips  slowly 
into  a  receptacle,  where  it  is  allowed  to  cool.  It  is 
then  in  the  stage  known  as  "  raw  balsam."  After- 
wards it  has  to  be  refined,  which  means  boiling  it 
again  and  draining  off  all  impurities,  when  it  is  packed 
in  iron  cans  and  sent  away  to  market. 

There  is  another  method,  which  was  explained  to 
me,  for  extracting  the  balsam — namely,  by  entirely 
barking  the  trees  and  heavy  branches,  a  process  which, 
of  course,  kills  the  tree  outright,  or  at  least  renders 
it  valueless  for  a  good  many  years.  The  bark  is 
ground  down  to  a  coarse  kind  of  powder ;  it  is  then 
boiled,  the  juice  or  guin  floating  to  the  top,  and  is 
thus  collected.  But  this  process,  although  speedy, 
really  destroys  the  full  value  of  the  gum,  which 
only  realizes  a  low  price  when  treated  in  this  manner. 
The  Government  forbids  this  method  to  be  adopted, 
as  a  matter  of  fact ;  but  the  Indians,  on  the  "  get  rich 
quick  "  principle,  practise  it  all  the  same.  The  balsam, 
as  seen  in  the  market,  looks  like  a  thick,  fatty,  viscid 
resin,  of  a  deep  brown  or  black  colour,  and  emitting 
a  delicious  odour. 

The  analysis  is — Cynamic  acid,  46  ;  resin,  32  ;  ben- 
zylic  alcohol,  20,  per  cent.  Balsam  is  used  in  making 
perfumery  and  soaps,  and  as  an  unguent ;  while  for 
asthma  and  other  pectoral  complaints  its  odour  is 
considered  very  beneficial. 


244     SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

The  personal  appearance  of  the  Salvadorean  peasant, 
as  will  be  seen  from  the  group  shown  in  the  photo- 
graph given,  is  unquestionably  an  agreeable  one.  The 
men  are  short  in  stature  as  a  rule,  but  they  possess 
regular  and  amiable  features — those  who  are  not  of 
the  pronounced  negro  type  ;  while  the  women  are  also 
usually  physically  attractive,  especially  when  young. 

In  regard  to  native  costume,  in  the  villages  and 
smaller  towns  the  men  still  wear  the  same  attire  as 
they  have  adopted  for  some  hundred  years  past— 
namely,  loose  and  baggy  trousers  of  cotton  spun  and 
woven  locally,  mostly  on  the  native  hand-looms ;  a 
shapeless  coat  or  loose  jacket  of  the  same  material ; 
and  a  large  palm-leaf  hat  without  any  ribbon,  binding, 
or  other  ornamentation.  The  women's  ordinary  attire 
consists  of  a  dark  blue  cotton  or  cloth  woven  skirt, 
a  loose  cotton  blouse  with  very  short  sleeves,  and  the 
native  shawl  worn  gracefully  over  the  head.  To-day 
many  affect  the  European  style  of  costume,  and  almost 
generally  they  do  so  in  the  Capital  and  the  larger 
towns. 

The  Indians  are  very  domesticated,  and  are  naturally 
of  an  affectionate  and  amiable  disposition.  It  is  quite 
a  common  occurrence  to  find  several  generations  living 
together  in  one  small  but  cleanly-kept  hut,  married 
and  single  members  of  the  family  occupying  the  same 
room,  the  oldest  member — grandfather  or  great-grand- 
father— being  much  deferred  to,  and,  as  a  rule,  govern- 
ing his  extensive  family  with  a  firm  but  gentle  hand. 
Parental  authority  is  greatly  respected  in  this  country 
among  the  natives,  and  family  life  is  often  found  very 
beautiful  in  some  respects,  offering,  indeed,  a  marked 
contrast  to  what  one  finds  existing  in  European 
countries,  especially  in  England,  among  the  working 
classes  of  the  population. 


DOMESTIC  LIFE  245 

The  Indian  inhabitants  of  Salvador  are  supposed  to 
be  lineal  descendants  of  the  Nahwals,  whose  other 
branch  are  found  in  Mexico  and  Guatemala.  Certainly 
there  is  a  strong  connection  both  in  their  physical 
attributes  and  their  ancient  dialects.  Naturally,  the 
aboriginal  population  has  been  much  modified  by 
nearly  four  centuries  of  contact  with  the  whites,  and 
an  almost  equally  long  subjugation  to  the  Spanish 
rule.  Nevertheless  there  are  some  towns  in  the 
Republic  which  to-day  retain  their  primitive  customs, 
and  in  such,  to  all  appearances,  the  aboriginal  blood 
has  undergone  scarcely  any,  if  indeed  the  slightest, 
intermixture.  In  most  places,  however,  the  original 
language  has  fallen  into  disuse,  or  merely  a  few 
words,  which  have  also  been  partially  adopted  by  the 
whites,  are  retained.  The  original  names  of  places 
have  in  some  localities  been  preserved  with  the 
greatest  tenacity,  and  afford  a  sure  guide  in  defining 
the  extent  of  territory  over  which  the  various  aboriginal 
nations  have  been  spread. 

I  have  visited  several  of  the  towns  situated  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  Sonsonate,  where  the  inhabitants  are 
almost  exclusively  Indians,  and  I  was  then  told  that  the 
language  which  they  habitually  speak  to  one  another 
is  also  aboriginal.  So  curiously  attached  are  some  of 
these  people  to  their  ancient  speech  and  government 
that  in  the  year  of  1832  a  number  of  the  inhabitants 
of  San  Vicente  arose  in  revolt  against  the  new 
government  which  was  then  imposed,  and  attempted 
to  restore  their  ancient  dominion,  at  the  same  time 
threatening  to  kill  all  the  whites  as  well  as  everyone 
showing  a  trace  of  European  blood  in  their  veins. 

The  new  census  of  the  country  will  have  been  taken 
on  July  1,  1911  (too  late  for  inclusion  in  this  volume, 


SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

which  will  have  gone  to  press),  in  accordance  with 
instructions  of  the  President,  the  officers  engaged 
being  attached  to  the  General  Bureau  of  Statistics. 
Every  effort  has  been  made  to  render  the  returns  in 
as  accurate  a  form  and  as  complete  as  possible.  The 
present  population,  according  to  the  statistics  of  1910, 
showed  that  the  number  of  inhabitants  stood  at 
1,084,850,  of  whom  some  200,000  were  foreigners. 


CHAPTER  XVIII 


Departments — Capital  cities — Population — Districts — Salvador  Depart- 
ment— City  of  San  Salvador — Situation — Surroundings — Destruction 
in  1854  by  earthquake — Description  of  catastrophe — Loss  of  life 
actually  small— Evacuation  of  city — Kecuperative  faculty  of  the 
people. 

THE  Republic  of  Salvador  is  divided  into  14  Depart- 
ments, which  are  again  subdivided  into  31  districts, 
27  cities,  51  towns,  164  villages,  and  215  hamlets. 
The  following  table  shows  the  names  of  such  Depart- 
ments, with  their  respective  capital  cities,  their 
population,  exclusive  of  foreigners,  and  the  number  of 
districts  which  they  contain  : 


Departments. 

Capital  Cities. 

Population. 

Number  of 
Districts. 

Capitals. 

Depart- 
ments. 

San  Salvador 

San  Salvador 

32,000 

65,000 

3 

La  Libertad 

New  San  Salvador 

11,000 

49,000 

2 

Sonsonate 

Sonsonate 

11,500 

41,500 

2 

Ahuachapan 

Ahuachapan 

12,000 

37,000 

2 

Santa  Ana 

Santa  Ana 

33,750 

80,500 

3 

Chalatenango 

Chalatenango 

6,000 

54,000 

2 

Cuscatlan 

Cojutepeque 

8,000 

62,000 

2 

Cabanas 

Sensuntepeque 

10,000 

35,000 

2 

San  Vicente 

San  Vicente 

11,000 

40,500 

2 

LaPaz 

Zacatecoluca 

6,500 

70,000 

2 

Usulutan 

Usulutan 

6,000 

42,000 

2 

San  Miguel 

San  Miguel 

23,000 

60,000 

2 

Morozan 

Gotera 

3,100 

35,100 

3 

La  Union 

La  Union 

3,700 

35,700 

2 

*  Total     ... 

177,550 

707,300 

— 

*  The  above  statistics  are  out  of  date ;  the  present  population  of  the 
Republic  of  Salvador  is  estimated  at  1,200,000. 

247 


248     SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

DEPARTMENT  OF  SAN  SALVADOR. 

Cities. — San  Salvador,  Tonacatepeque  (2). 

Towns. — Mejicanos,  Apopa,  Nejapa,  Santo  Tomas, 
Panchimalco  (5). 

This  was  one  of  the  first  of  the  original  divisions 
into  which  the  Republic  was  divided  in  the  year  1821, 
at  which  period  the  separation  from  the  neighbouring 
kingdom  of  Guatemala  took  place.  San  Salvador  is 
bounded  on  the  north  by  the  Departments  of  Chala- 
tenango  and  Cuscatlan,  on  the  east  by  Cuscatlan  and 
La  Paz,  on  the  south  by  La  Libertad  and  La  Paz,  and 
on  the  west  by  La  Libertad.  A  great  variety  of 
scenery  is  met  with,  and  no  portion  of  the  country  can 
be  described  as  anything  but  beautiful  and  romantic. 
In  the  southern  part  is  encountered  the  rugged  and 
picturesque  coastal  range  of  mountains ;  the  central 
portion  is  broken  up  into  a  number  of  small,  fertile 
valleys  of  surprising  scenic  beauty  and  fertility ;  while 
the  northern  section  is  covered  with  hills,  which, 
although  always  green,  are  destitute  of  large  trees, 
The  Department  contains  two  volcanoes — San  Salvador, 
or  Quezaltepeque,  as  the  Indians  name  it,  and  Hopango, 
which  is  situated  upon  a  lake  bearing  the  same  name. 
Surrounding  the  capital  are  an  immense  number  of 
prosperous  fincas,  or  agricultural  estates,  market- 
gardens,  and  great  stretches  of  tobacco,  coffee,  sugar, 
rice,  corn  and  bean  plantations.  The  whole  popula- 
tion are  engaged  in  these  industries,  the  amount  of 
labour  necessary  being  abundantly  supplied,  and  to 
all  appearances  the  people  seem  extremely  prosperous 
and  contented.  I  failed,  indeed,  to  observe  any  signs 
of  either  poverty  or  disorderliness,  while,  on  the 
contrary,  nearly  everyone  encountered  appeared 


SAN  SALVADOR  249 

merry,  well  fed,  and  decently  dressed.  There  is  little 
reason  to  suppose  that  these  evidences  were  deceptive. 

In  spite  of  the  fact  that  San  Salvador  has  been 
visited  by  so  many  different  volcanic  eruptions,  it  has 
really  suffered  less  from  earthquakes  or  their  effects 
than  either  Costa  Rica  or  Guatemala,  its  immediate 
neighbours.  There  are  still  living  in  Salvador  those 
who  remember  and  speak  of  the  great  seismic  catas- 
trophe which  befell  the  Capital  City  in  the  month  of 
April,  1854,  by  which  that  place  was  almost  com- 
pletely ruined.  Previous  to  this  catastrophe,  the  city, 
in  point  of  size  and  importance,  had  ranked  third  in 
Central  America,  Guatemala  City,  in  the  State  of  the 
same  name,  being  first,  and  Leon,  in  Nicaragua, 
second.  In  regard  to  the  first  named,  Guatemala 
City  still  remains  the  capital  of  its  State  ;  but  Leon, 
although  ranking  as  the  largest  city  in  the  Republic 
of  Nicaragua,  has  had  to  yield  to  Managua  the  pride 
of  place  as  capital  and  seat  of  Government. 

The  name  of  "  San  Salvador  "  was  chosen  by  its 
pious  but  pitiless  founder,  Don  Jorge  de  Alvarado, 
who  conquered  the  territory  for  the  Spanish  Govern- 
ment after  Columbus  had  located  it,  in  commemoration 
of  his  final  decisive  victory  over  the  Indians  of  Cus- 
catMn,  which  battle  was  gained  on  the  eve  of  the 
festival  of  San  Salvador.  During  the  long  dominion 
of  Spain  in  South  and  Central  America,  the  city  was 
the  seat  of  the  Governor,  or  Intendente,  of  the  province 
of  San  Salvador,  who,  again,  was  subservient  to  the 
Captain-General  of  Guatemala.  After  its  independence 
San  Salvador  became  the  capital  of  the  new  State,  and 
it  was  early  distinguished  for  its  thorough  devotion 
to  the  principles  of  the  Liberal  party  in  Central 
America. 


250     SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

Even  as  far  back  as  1853,  a  notable  writer  of  the 
day  who  was  travelling  in  Salvador  described  the  city 
as  "  a  very  beautiful  town/'  and  also  spoke  of  the 
general  intelligence,  the  industry,  and  the  enterprise 
of  its  inhabitants,  who,  in  his  opinion,  "  surpassed  in 
these  respects  the  people  of  any  of  the  other  large 
towns  in  Central  America. "  This  visitor,  as  are  all 
who  sojourn  for  any  length  of  time  in  San  Salvador, 
became  much  impressed  by  the  picturesque  position 
of  the  city,  which,  as  already  indicated,  lies  in  the 
midst  of  a  broad  but  elevated  plain,  situated  on  the 
summit  of  a  high  tableland  or  coast  range  of  moun- 
tains, which  intervene  between  the  valley  of  the  River 
Lempa  and  the  Pacific. 

By  barometrical  admeasurement,  San  Salvador  lies 
2,115  feet  above  the  sea.  As  a  consequence,  its  climate 
is  found  pleasantly  cool  as  compared  with  that  of  coast 
alluvians,  although  unfavourably  modified  in  this 
respect  by  a  low  range  of  hills  on  the  southern  border 
of  the  plain,  which  shuts  off  the  full  benefit  of  the 
sea-breeze.  Were  it  not  for  this  obstacle,  the  winds 
blowing  from  the  ocean,  which  is  only  twenty  miles 
distant,  would  reach  the  city.  As  an  indication  of  the 
kind  of  temperature  one  meets  with,  it  may  be  said 
that  in  August  the  maximum  of  temperature  rarely 
exceeds  80°  Fahrenheit,  the  minimum  70°,  and  the 
mean  average  76' 3°,  which,  as  will  be  generally  recog- 
nized, constitutes  a  delightful  climate. 

The  hills  which  surround  the  plain  of  San  Salvador 
are  covered  with  verdure,  which  keeps  its  colour  and 
freshness  owing  to  the  heavy  dews  which  fall  and  the 
absence  of  dust,  while  a  fair  amount  of  rain  can  always 
be  depended  upon. 

Not  more  than  three  miles  to  the  westward  of  the 


EARTHQUAKE  OF  1854  251 

Capital  City,  and  watching  over  it  like  a  gigantic 
sentinel,  stands  the  magnificent  volcano  of  San  Salva- 
dor. In  this  respect  one  is  reminded  of  some  other 
Spanish-American  cities,  such  as  La  Paz  in  Bolivia, 
with  the  superb  Misti  ;  and,  again,  of  Mexico  City, 
with  its  two  ever-watchful  volcanic  guardians — Ixtac- 
cihuatl,  which  stands  16,060  feet  in  height,  and 
Popocatepetl,  which  towers  to  17,782  feet  in  the  air. 
The  cone  of  San  Salvador  volcano,  which  rises  on  the 
northern  border  or  edge  of  the  crater,  is,  however, 
approximately  but  8,000  feet  in  height. 

Some  fifty  or  sixty  years  ago  San  Salvador,  judging 
from  contemporary  pictures,  must  have  been  even 
more  charming  in  appearance  than  it  is  to-day ;  then 
its  population,  however,  scarcely  exceeded  25,000. 
With  the  exception  of  the  central  and  paved  part  of 
the  city,  it  was  eminently  sylvan,  being  literally 
embowered  in  masses  of  tropical  fruit-trees.  The 
red-roofed  dwellings,  closely  shut  in  with  evergreen 
hedges  of  cactus,  shadowed  over  by  palm  and  orange 
trees,  with  a  dense  background  of  broad-leaved  plan- 
tains, almost  sinking  beneath  their  heavy  clusters  of 
rich  golden  fruit,  must  have  presented  a  delightful 
scenic  picture,  at  once  romantic  and  peaceful. 

From  contemporary  reports,  it  is  pitiful  to  read  that 
this  exquisite  scene  was  subsequently  completely 
devastated  in  the  brief  space  of  ten  seconds,  for  pre- 
cisely that  period  elapsed  between  the  beginning  and 
the  end  of  the  awful  earthquake  of  April  16, 1854.  I 
have  been  shown  pictures  of  the  ill-fated  city  which 
were  painted  a  year  or  two  before  the  disaster,  as  well 
as  one  which  showed  San  Salvador  as  it  stood  in  1839, 
the  date  of  a  previous  similar  disaster.  The  appear- 
ance in  both  cases  was  singularly  attractive  in  regard 


SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

to  the  character  of  the  buildings  and  their  scenic 
surroundings.  In  the  freshness  of  their  affliction 
the  inhabitants  determined  never  again  to  return  to 
the  city,  but,  as  history  has  proved,  they  did  so  in 
exactly  the  same  manner  as  the  ever  -  faithful  in- 
habitants of  Mount  Vesuvius  have  returned  again  and 
again  to  the  scene  of  their  numerous  previous  mis- 
fortunes. The  people  of  Guatemala  were  somewhat 
wiser.  Soon  after  1773  they  deserted  their  capital, 
which  stood  at  the  foot  of  the  volcanoes  Agua  and 
Fuego  (Water  and  Fire),  and  which  was  overwhelmed 
by  a  volcanic  eruption,  for  they  then  built  themselves 
a  new  place  of  abode,  which  is  the  present  handsome 
city  and  Capital  of  the  Republic. 

I  have  been  afforded  the  following  interesting 
account  of  the  destruction  of  San  Salvador,  a  descrip- 
tion which  was  published  in  a  small  Government 
organ  dated  May  2,  1854,  and  which  provides  so 
graphic  a  description  of  what  occurred  that  I  make  no 
apology  for  reproducing  it  in  these  pages. 

The  chronicler  of  that  day  says  : 

"The  night  of  April  16,  1854,  will  ever  be  one  of  sad  and 
bitter  memory  to  the  people  of  Salvador.  On  that  unfortunate 
night  our  happy  and  beautiful  capital  was  made  a  heap  of 
ruins.  Movements  of  the  earth  were  felt  on  the  morning  of 
Holy  Thursday,  preceded  by  sounds  like  the  rolling  of  heavy 
artillery  over  pavements,  and  like  distant  thunder.  The 
people  were  a  little  alarmed  in  consequence  of  this  phe- 
nomenon, but  it  did  not  prevent  them  from  meeting  in  the 
churches  to  celebrate  the  solemnities  of  the  day.  On  Saturday 
all  was  quiet,  and  confidence  was  restored.  The  people  of 
the  neighbourhood  assembled  as  usual  to  celebrate  the  Pass- 
over. The  night  of  Saturday  was  quiet,  so  also  was  the  whole 
of  Sunday.  The  heat,  it  is  true,  was  considerable,  but  the 
atmosphere  was  calm  and  serene.  For  the  first  three  hours 


EARTHQUAKE  OF  1854  253 

of  the  evening  there  was  nothing  of  unusual  occurrence,  but 
at  half-past  nine  a  severe  shock  of  an  earthquake,  occurring 
without  the  usual  preliminary  noises,  alarmed  the  whole  city. 
Many  families  left  their  houses  and  made  encampments  in  the 
public  squares,  while  others  prepared  to  pass  the  night  in 
their  respective  courtyards. 

"  Finally,  at  ten  minutes  to  eleven,  without  further  pre- 
monition of  any  kind,  the  earth  began  to  heave  and  tremble 
with  such  fearful  force  that  in  ten  seconds  the  entire  city  was 
prostrated.  The  crashing  of  houses  and  churches  stunned 
the  ears  of  the  terrified  inhabitants,  while  a  cloud  of  dust  from 
the  falling  ruins  enveloped  them  in  a  pall  of  impenetrable 
darkness.  Not  a  drop  of  water  could  be  got  to  relieve  the 
half -choked  and  the  suffocating,  for  the  wells  and  fountains 
were  filled  up  or  made  dry.  The  clock-tower  of  the  cathedral 
carried  a  great  part  of  that  edifice  with  it  in  its  fall.  The 
towers  of  the  church  of  San  Francisco  crashed  down  upon  the 
episcopal  oratory  and  part  of  the  palace.  The  Church  of  Santo 
Domingo  was  buried  beneath  its  towers,  and  the  College  of 
the  Assumption  was  entirely  ruined.  The  new  and  beautiful 
edifice  of  the  University  was  demolished.  The  Church  of  the 
Merced  separated  in  the  centre,  and  its  walls  fell  outward  to 
the  ground.  Of  the  private  houses,  a  few  were  left  standing1, 
but  all  were  rendered  uninhabitable.  It  is  worthy  of  remark 
that  the  walls  left  standing  are  old  ones ;  all  those  of  modern 
construction  have  fallen.  The  public  edifices  of  the  Govern- 
ment and  the  city  shared  in  the  common  destruction. 

"  The  devastation  was  effected,  as  we  have  said,  in  the  first 
ten  seconds ;  for  although  the  succeeding  shocks  were  tre- 
mendous, and  accompanied  by  fearful  rumblings  beneath  our 
feet,  they  had  comparatively  trifling  results,  for  the  reason 
that  the  first  jar  left  but  little  for  their  ravages. 

"  Solemn  and  terrible  was  the  picture  presented,  on  the 
dark,  funereal  night,  of  a  whole  people  clustering  in  the  plazas, 
and,  on  their  knees,  crying  with  loud  voices  to  Heaven  for 
mercy,  or  in  agonizing  accents  calling  for  their  children  and 
their  friends,  whom  they  believed  to  be  buried  beneath  the 
ruins.  A  heaven  opaque  and  ominous;  a  movement  of  the 


254     SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

earth  rapid  and  unequal,  causing  a  terror  indescribable ;  an 
intense  sulphurous  odour  filling  the  atmosphere,  and  indicating 
an  approaching  eruption  of  the  volcano ;  streets  filled  with 
ruins  or  overhung  by  threatening  walls ;  a  suffocating  cloud 
of  dust,  almost  rendering  respiration  impossible — such  was 
the  spectacle  presented  by  the  unhappy  city  on  that  memorable 
and  awful  night. 

"A  hundred  boys  were  shut  up  in  the  college,  many 
invalids  crowded  the  hospitals,  and  the  barracks  were  full 
of  soldiers.  The  sense  of  the  catastrophe  which  must  have 
befallen  them  gave  poignancy  to  the  first  moments  of  reflection 
after  the  earthquake  was  over.  It  was  believed  that  at  least 
a  fourth  part  of  the  inhabitants  had  been  buried  beneath  the 
ruins.  The  members  of  the  Government  hastened  to  ascertain 
as  far  as  practicable  the  extent  of  the  catastrophe,  and  to 
quiet  the  public  mind.  It  was  found  that  the  loss  of  life  had 
been  much  less  than  was  supposed,  and  it  now  appears  that 
the  number  of  the  killed  will  not  exceed  one  hundred,  and  of 
wounded  fifty.  Among  the  latter  is  the  Bishop,  who  received 
a  severe  blow  on  the  head,  the  late  President,  Senor  Duenas, 
a  daughter  of  the  President,  and  the  wife  of  the  Secretary  of 
the  Legislative  Chambers,  the  latter  severely. 

"Fortunately,  the  earthquake  has  not  been  followed  by 
rains,  which  gives  an  opportunity  to  disinter  the  public 
archives,  as  also  many  of  the  valuables  contained  in  the 
dwellings  of  the  citizens. 

"  The  movements  of  the  earth  still  continue  with  strong 
shocks,  and  the  people,  fearing  a  general  swallowing  up  of  the 
site  of  the  city,  or  that  it  may  be  buried  under  some  sudden 
eruption  of  the  volcano,  are  hastening  away,  taking  with  them 
their  household  gods,  the  sweet  memories  of  their  infancy, 
and  their  domestic  animals — perhaps  the  only  property  left 
for  the  support  of  their  families — exclaiming  with  Virgil : 
'  Nos  patriae  fines  et  dulcia  linquimus  arva/  " 

I  have  witnessed  scenes  in  Valparaiso,  in  San 
Francisco,  and  in  Kingston,  Jamaica,  almost  precisely 
similar  to  these  so  graphically  portrayed  ;  but  in  all 


EARTHQUAKE  OF  1854 


255 


these  cases  the  loss  of  life  was  considerably  greater 
than  occurred  in  San  Salvador.  To-day  the  capital  of 
the  Republic  bears  not  a  single  trace  of  the  disaster, 
nor  yet  of  some  subsequent  visitations ;  for  the  recu- 
perative faculties  of  these  optimistic  peoples  are  as 
astonishing  as  they  are  thorough  and  instantaneous  in 
the  manner  in  which  they  assert  themselves. 


CHAPTER  XIX 

City  of  San  Salvador — San  Salvador  as  place  of  residence — Theatres — 
Parks — Streets — Hotels — Domestic  servants — Hospitality  of  residents 
— Societies  and  associations— Educational  establishments— Govern- 
ment buildings — Keligion  and  churches — Casino — Hospitals  and 
institutions — Disastrous  conflagrations — Public  monuments. 

THERE  are  few  more  pleasant  cities  as  a  place  of 
residence  for  all  the  year  round  than  San  Salvador. 
The  climate  is  very  agreeable,  while  the  situation  of  the 
city,  scenically  speaking,  is  exceptionally  beautiful, 
being  located  as  it  is  2,115  feet  above  the  level  of  the 
sea  in  the  valley  of  Cuscatlan,  or,  as  it  is  called  in 
the  vernacular,  "  Valle  de  las  Hamacas  "  (the  Vale  of 
the  Hammocks).  This  district  has  been  so  named,  I 
understand,  because  it  lies  directly  in  the  line  of  the 
severest  earthquake  action,  and  has  many  times  in 
the  past  been  "  rocked  and  swung  "  by  the  waves  of 
movement,  and  which  have  been  rendered  unusually 
destructive  by  the  reflex  action  of  the  high  hills  which 
half  encircle  the  place. 

San  Salvador  was  founded,  as  already  observed,  by 
Don  Jorge  de  Alvarado,  brother  of  the  famous  Spanish 
conqueror,  Don  Pedro  de  Alvarado,  on  April  4,  1543, 
and  from  1834  to  1839  it  was  the  capital  of  the  new 
Republic,  a  dignity  which  was  in  later  years  trans- 
ferred to  the  city  of  San  Vicente  ;  while  Cojutepeque 
upon  three  separate  occasions,  as  pointed  out  more 
fully  elsewhere,  was  also  used  as  the  Federal  Capital. 

256 


SANTA  TECLA  257 

In  the  year  1840,  however,  San  Salvador  became  the 
designated  metropolis,  and  has  since  remained  so. 
Here  are  located  all  the  Government  Departments,  as 
well  as  the  Supreme  Civil  and  Military  Courts,  in 
addition  to  the  headquarters  of  the  Ecclesiastical 
Government. 

In  the  year  1854,  the  city  having  been  ruined, 
as  we  have  seen,  the  Government  as  a  consequence 
ordered  the  founding  of  Nueva  San  Salvador,  or  Santa 
Tecla,  which  lies  some  eight  miles  to  the  south-west, 
and  about  800  feet  higher,  as  a  city  of  refuge.  To 
this  place  many  families  transferred  their  homes,  and 
it  is  now  a  very  prosperous  place,  with  a  population 
exceeding  11,000  inhabitants.  Many  good  people  of 
San  Salvador,  however,  were  not  so  much  discouraged 
by  their  misfortune  after  all,  and  they  very  pluckily 
rebuilt  the  city,  only,  however,  to  again  see  it  laid  low 
by  the  even  greater  catastrophe  of  March  19,  1873. 
Gradually,  and  for  the  third  time,  this  city  rose  from 
its  ruins,  and  there  are  to-day  no  traces  in  its  streets 
of  any  of  the  various  disasters  which  have  visited  it. 

San  Salvador  is  altogether  a  well-constructed  and 
even  a  handsome  city,  with  several  notable  public 
buildings  which  would  grace  any  European  capital. 
Among  these  are  the  Casa  Blanca,  the  Artillery 
Barracks,  the  National  Institute,  the  University,  the 
Theatre,  the  Market,  the  Orphans'  Home,  the  Poly- 
technic School,  the  Normal  School,  the  new  Cathedral, 
and  a  large  number  of  other  handsome  churches. 

The  Government  have  constructed  a  handsome 
official  building  in  the  city  of  San  Salvador,  to  provide 
thoroughly  up-to-date  and  modern  quarters  for  the 
various  Government  Departments,  in  addition  to  which 
it  adds  considerable  beauty  to  the  Capital  City.  This 

17 


258    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

edifice  is  built  in  the  Continental  style  of  architecture, 
and  has  been  occupied  for  some  two  years  past. 

There  are  also  many  attractive  private  residences,  con- 
sisting of  one  or  two  stories,  with  handsome  interiors  and 
beautiful  gardens.  The  usual  style  of  building  adopted 
is  the  adobe  house,  with  tiled  roof ;  and  what  lends 
particular  attraction  to  the  appearance  of  the  city  is  the 
variety  of  the  architecture  adopted  for  both  private 
and  public  buildings  ;  additionally,  a  large  number 
of  plazas,  parks,  and  open  spaces,  prevent  anything 
approaching  an  appearance  of  monotony.  The  whole 
city  is  extremely  well  lighted  by  electricity,  the  roads 
are  well  paved  and  as  well  maintained,  while  the 
drainage  is  excellent.  The  material  of  which  the 
sidewalks  are  built  consists  mostly  of  large  slabs  of 
the  basaltic  rock,  which  is  freely  and  cheaply  quarried 
from  the  famous  Guarumal  Canon. 

This  elegance  and  good  taste  are  displayed  almost 
generally  in  the  city  of  Salvador  regarding  the  arrange- 
ment of  the  public  parks  and  gardens,  as  well  as  in 
connection  with  the  private  residences  of  the  well-to- 
do  inhabitants.  The  beautiful  Parque  Bolivar,  which 
was  completed  and  opened  to  the  public  in  January, 
1881,  and  the  no  less  attractive  Parque  Barrios,  which 
was  inaugurated  in  the  same  month  of  1901,  and  for 
a  second  time  in  1909,  are  cases  in  point. 

The  Parque  Duefias  is  centrally  situated,  and  is  a 
favourite  rendezvous  with  all  classes.  In  the  Parque 
Moraza"  n  is  to  be  seen  the  handsome  monument  erected 
in  1882  to  the  hero  of  the  same  name.  The  attractive 
thoroughfare  known  as  Avenida  de  la  Independencia 
was  inaugurated  in  December,  1901,  and  the  Central 
Markets  in  October,  1887.  The  new  Cathedral,  com- 
menced in  June,  1881,  was  completed  and  solemnly 


THE  CHURCH  259 

consecrated  seven  years  later — namely,  in  June  of 
1888.  It  is  a  fine  edifice,  and  contains  some  handsome 
ecclesiastical  plate  and  beautiful  mural  decorations. 

The  Cathedral  is  altogether  a  fine  specimen  of  Latin- 
American  ecclesiastical  architecture,  but  is  distin- 
guished from  many  others  of  the  same  period  by  the 
feature  of  pointed  arches,  instead  of  the  usual  square 
or  rounded  arches  usually  prevailing  in  this  class  of 
buildings.  It  is  dedicated  to  the  patron  saint  of 
Salvador. 

The  prevailing  religion  in  the  Republic,  as  a  natural 
consequence  of  the  long  ascendancy  of  the  Spanish 
domination,  is  Roman  Catholic.  Previous  to  the 
Liberal  revolution  of  1871  no  other  kind  of  religion 
was  tolerated.  Since  then,  and  to-day,  the  greatest 
freedom  and  toleration  prevail  in  all  religious  matters ; 
while  so  far  has  the  hand  of  reform  stretched  that  the 
cemeteries  are  freed  from  the  control  of  the  clergy ; 
civil  marriages  are  legalized  without  the  addition  of 
any  religious  ceremony ;  education  is  non-clerical, 
and  all  monastic  institutions  have  been  abolished. 
All  these  changes  are  embodied  in  the  Constitution 
promulgated  on  August  13,  1886,  and  under  which 
the  country  is  governed  to-day.  Nevertheless,  the 
Church  is  greatly  respected  by  the  people,  and  the 
attendances  at  Mass  are  invariably  large  and  repre- 
sentative. The  bishopric  of  San  Salvador  was  created 
in  1842. 

A  very  handsome  thoroughfare  is  Santa  Tecla  Avenue, 
a  broad  and  beautifully  laid-out  thoroughfare,  linking 
up  this  favourite  residential  place  with  the  City  of 
Santa  Tecla,  locally  known  as  the  "  City  of  Flowers." 
Already  one  of  the  most  favourite  suburbs,  it  is 
growing  rapidly  in  favour  as  a  residential  quarter 


260    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

with  the  people  of  San  Salvador,  being  situated  from 
it  only  a  few  miles  distant. 

The  tramway  system  is  as  yet  only  at  the  com- 
mencement of  its  development,  and  electricity  has  yet 
to  play  an  important  part  in  its  equipment.  There 
are  two  companies  running  regular  services  of  cars, 
one  being  the  Concepcion  and  Western  Tramway 
Company,  which  sends  out  its  cars  at  intervals  of 
ten  minutes  during  the  busiest  parts  of  the  day,  and 
conducts  a  service  till  fairly  late  at  night.  Usually, 
however,  the  last  cars  have  gone  back  to  the  garage 
before  theatre-goers  have  left  their  places  of  enter- 
tainment. Fortunately,  the  fares  demanded  by  the 
local  Jehus  are  reasonable,  and  it  is  therefore  an  easy 
matter  for  belated  passengers  to  reach  home. 

The  new  theatre,  which  will  soon  adorn  the  city  in 
place  of  that  which  was  burned  down  last  year,  should 
form  a  handsome  addition  to  the  architecture  of  San 
Salvador.  The  Municipality  very  wisely  invited  com- 
petition for  erecting  and  designing  the  building,  which 
is  to  have  a  seating  capacity  of  some  1,200.  The 
structure  is  to  be  equipped  with  the  latest  improve- 
ments and  appliances,  and  will  be  made  as  fireproof 
and  as  earthquake-proof  as  modern  science  can  effect. 
The  cost  will  be  between  800,000  and  1,200,000 
francs,  or,  say,  £32,000  and  £48,000.  All  construc- 
tion materials  are  to  be  imported  free  of  duty,  which 
should  lessen  the  cost  immensely.  Two  prizes  were 
offered,  of  800  francs  (£32)  and  400  francs  (£16) 
respectively,  for  the  best  plans,  and  when  the  last  day 
for  sending  these  in — namely,  March  15,  1911 — had 
passed,  the  judges  had  several  handsome  designs  to 
choose  from. 

In  the  month  of  March  last  the  number  of  com- 


HOTELS  261 

petitive  plans  which  were  sent  in  to  the  Department 
of  Fomento  for  the  new  National  Theatre  in  the 
capital  amounted  to  thirteen,  of  which  three  came 
from  Paris,  one  from  New  Orleans,  one  from  Canada, 
four  from  San  Salvador,  one  from  Monaco,  one  from 
Italy,  and  others  from  New  York.  The  whole  of  the 
designs  were  exhibited  in  a  public  gallery. 

While  one  may  admit  freely  that  the  hotels  in 
Salvador  are  conducted  for  the  most  part  upon  in- 
finitely better  lines  than  are  those  in  the  neighbouring 
Republic  of  Guatemala — which,  indeed,  may  be  pro- 
nounced, without  undue  harshness,  as  possessing  about 
the  worst  in  Central  America — the  Salvadorean  hos- 
telries  are  not  as  yet  absolutely  perfect.  In  this 
regard,  however,  it  is  only  fair  to  remember  the 
extreme  difficulties  which  the  proprietors  are  called 
upon  to  face.  The  servant  problem  is,  perhaps,  the 
hardest  of  all,  and  there  is  hardly  one,  among  the 
many  hotel  managers  of  various  nationalities  with 
whom  I  discussed  matters,  but  who  confessed  to  me 
that  he  was  weary  to  death  of  his  efforts  to  conduct 
his  business  with  the  aid  of  native  domestics.  I  have 
myself  upon  different  occasions  been  witness  to  the 
curiously  perverse  nature  of  some  of  these  servants  ; 
when,  like  others,  I  have  been  travelling  through  or 
resident  in  the  interior  of  the  country,  I  have  likewise 
observed  their  spirit  of  robust  independence. 

Where  the  cost  of  living  is  so  low,  and  the  question 
of  supply  and  demand  in  regard  to  domestic  service 
is  so  overwhelmingly  in  favour  of  the  latter,  anything 
like  efficient  service  is  practically  impossible  to  find. 
The  domestic  servants  in  Salvador  are  recruited  almost 
entirely  from  among  the  Indians ;  and  while  these 
latter  are  by  no  means  lacking  in  intelligence,  and 


SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

can  by  kind  treatment  be  won  to  some  degree  of 
fidelity,  they  are  naturally  slow,  and  even  indolent, 
while  an  extreme  sensitiveness  and  spirit  of  resent- 
ment at  once  asserts  itself  should  blame  or  abuse  be 
offered  by  the  employer.  Under  such  circumstances, 
or  even  for  less  provocation,  the  domestic  will  forth- 
with take  leave,  and  even  forfeit  the  few  shillings 
in  wages  that  may  be  due.  Usually,  however,  the 
wages  question  is  in  favour  of  the  servant,  since 
payment  has  probably  been  anticipated,  and  the 
domestic  is  the  debtor,  and  not  the  creditor,  of  the 
master.  This  hold,  therefore,  is  a  somewhat  feeble 
one  to  depend  upon,  and  in  nine  cases  out  of  ten  fails 
to  apply. 

There  are  a  number  of  European  and  native  families 
who  possess  the  traditional  "  treasure  "  in  the  person 
of  an  old  and  faithful  retainer ;  but  not  infrequently 
the  history  of  such  "  treasure,"  when  probed,  shows 
that  the  employer  is  over-indulgent,  being  fearful  of 
losing  the  much-prized  services  of  the  domestic  in 
question,  permits  all  kinds  of  privileges,  and  submits 
to  all  sorts  of  exactions,  in  order  to  preserve  peace  in 
the  household.  Perhaps  it  may  be  good  policy  to  do 
so ;  but  I  have  witnessed  instances  of  downright 
tryanny  upon  the  part  of  some  native  servants — not 
by  any  means  confined  to  Salvador — which,  in  my 
opinion  at  least,  could  never  have  been  warranted, 
and  never  should  have  been  condoned,  no  matter  how 
valuable  the  services  rendered  may  have  been.  The 
absolute  helplessness  of  the  lady  of  the  house  may  be 
accepted  as  some  excuse,  but  peace  may  be  purchased 
at  too  high  a  price,  and  in  the  instances  which  I  have 
in  mind  I  fancy  such  was  the  case.  Bat,  then,  I  was 
not  personally  concerned  in  the  results,  and  therefore 


THEATRES  263 

my  judgment  may  be  at  fault,  and  even  regarded  as 
valueless. 

Salvador  seems  to  be  a  particularly  favourite 
visiting-place  with  itinerant  theatrical  companies.  All 
the  year  round,  practically,  a  theatrical  troupe  of  some 
kind  may  be  found  touring  the  country,  which  is 
usually  included,  with  Guatemala,  Panama,  and  Costa 
Rica,  in  the  "  Central  American "  road  programme. 
As  a  general  rule,  however,  the  companies  are  of  a 
somewhat  indifferent  quality  —  poor  Italians  and 
Spaniards,  whose  precarious  existence  often  excites 
commiseration  from  even  the  hard-hearted.  It  is 
pitiable  to  see  them  upon  occasions  moving  from 
State  to  State  and  from  town  to  town — lean,  hungry, 
dirty,  and  depressed  in  spirits,  as  they  well  may  be  ; 
women  and  children,  many  of  the  latter  being  born  on 
the  road,  having  to  undergo  very  great  physical  priva- 
tions and  serious  personal  inconveniences.  The  men, 
probably  more  habituated  to  the  roughness  of  life, 
mostly  accept  their  hard  lot  with  philosophy  and 
resignation  ;  but  it  is  cruelly  severe  upon  the  women 
and  little  children.  The  public  of  Salvador  are  some- 
what capricious  in  their  support  of  the  different 
theatrical  companies,  and  at  times  the  playhouses  are 
practically  empty,  and  even  the  cheaper  portions 
deserted. 

It  was  in  the  month  of  January,  1910,  that  the  City 
of  San  Salvador  lost  its  handsome  Teatro  Nacional 
through  fire — a  disaster  which  was  caused,  it  being 
charged,  by  incendiarism,  although  this  has  never  been 
proved.  There  is  at  present  but  one  other  place  of 
entertainment — El  Teatro  Moderno,  belonging  to  the 
same  proprietary,  and  which  is  but  a  large-sized  barn, 
capable  of  accommodating  at  the  most  some  200  people. 


264    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

It  was  used  originally  for  cinematograph  exhibitions, 
which,  by-the-by,  with  all  Latin-Americans  would 
seem  to  be  a  very  popular  and  profitable  form  of 
entertainment.  The  place  is  structurally  fit  for  no 
other  sort  of  performance,  but  is  now  perforce  being 
utilized  for  dramatic  and  musical  representations. 

In  few  cities  of  its  size  will  be  found  a  larger  number 
of  Societies  than  San  Salvador  possesses,  these  associa- 
tions being  representative  not  only  of  various  classes 
of  organized  labour,  but  of  literature,  music,  art, 
religion,  science,  and  even  insurance.  Among  those 
which  have  their  headquarters  in  the  Capital  are— 
"  Sociedad  Union  Nacional  de  Amigos,"  "  Sociedad 
Estudiantil  Minerva,"  "  Sociedad  Carlos  F.  Dardano," 
"  Sociedad  de  Medicina  Emilio  Alvarez,"  "  Academia  de 
Ciencias,  Letras  y  Artes  de  El  Salvador,"  "  Sociedad 
Pedagogica  Francisco  Mene*ndez,"  "  Sociedad  de 
Artesanos  La  Concordia,"  "  Sociedad  de  Obreros  Ge- 
rado  Barrios,"  "  Sociedad  La  Buena  Prensa,"  "  Sociedad 
de  Artesanos  del  Salvador,"  "Sociedad  Co-operativa  El 
Ahorro,"  "  Sociedad  Nacional  de  Agricultura,"  "  Logia 
Masonica." 

The  Provinces  have  also  their  respective  associa- 
tions, many  possessing  a  long  and  influential  subscrip- 
tion list ;  among  the  most  prominent  may  be  mentioned  : 
"  Sociedad  de  Obreros  "  and  "  Sociedad  literaria  Jose* 
Cecilio  del  Valle,"  both  having  their  headquarters  in 
Santa  Ana ;  "  Sociedad  de  Obreros  El  Porvenir,"  in 
Santa  Tecla  ;  "  Sociedad  de  Obreros  Rafael  Campo," 
at  Sonsonate ;  "  Club  Unionista,"  at  Ahuachapan  ; 
"  Sociedad  de  Obreros "  and  "  Logia  Masonica,"  at 
Cojutepeque  ;  "  Sociedad  de  Obreros,"  at  Sensunta- 
peque  ;  and  "Sociedad  LaProtecci6n,"  at  Zacatecoluca. 

The  principal    educational   establishments   of  the 


CHARITIES  265 

Republic  are  located  in  the  Capital,  and  comprise  the 
National  University,  of  which  Dr.  Herni6genes  Alvarado 
is  the  Deacon  and  Dr.  Adrian  Garcia  is  the  Secretary ; 
the  National  Institute,  of  which  Dr.  Dario  Gonzalez  is 
the  Director ;  the  National  Library,  of  which  Don 
Francisco  Gavidia  is  the  Director  ;  and  the  Municipal 
Library,  of  which  Dr.  Don  Jose  Dols  Corpefto  is  the 
Director.  There  are  in  addition  the  Astronomical  and 
Meteorological  Observatory,  directed  by  Dr.  Santiago 
I.  Barberena,  and  the  Museum  and  Botanical  Gardens, 
both  under  the  direction  of  Dr.  David  J.  Guzman. 

Among  the  many  excellent  charitable  institutions  of 
which  the  Capital  is  possessed  are  the  Orphans' 
Asylum,  directed  by  Don  Francisco  Escobar ;  the  Sara 
Asylum,  directed  by  Dr.  Alfonso  Quiftonez ;  the 
Orphans'  Hospital,  which  is  under  the  same  control  as 
the  Asylum  of  that  name ;  and  the  well-known  Hospital 
Resales,  which  is  controlled  by  a  number  of  the  most 
eminent  medical  men  in  the  Republic.  It  is  an 
admirably-managed  institution,  and  has  effected  a 
great  deal  of  sound  charity  since  its  inauguration  some 
years  ago. 

A  great  amount  of  unobtrusive  but  sound  charity 
and  benevolence  are  practised  in  Salvador.  The 
people  as  a  whole  are,  perhaps,  not  very  wealthy  in  the 
accepted  sense  of  the  word,  and  there  are  probably  few 
great  family  fortunes  to  be  found  there  ;  while  I  was 
never  fortunate  enough  to  come  across  a  full-blown 
millionaire — at  all  events,  considered  in  sterling  money. 
On  the  other  hand,  there  are  many  very  well-to-do 
families,  many  handsome  privately-owned  properties, 
and  several  highly-prosperous  businesses,  especially 
among  the  coffee  and  sugar  planters.  No  doubt  in 
the  halcyon  days  of  the  indigo  industry  Salvador 


266    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

could  boast  of  many  very  opulent  residents ;  but 
with  the  invention  of  the  aniline  dyes  much  of  this 
indigo  wealth  passed  away.  The  wide  diffusion  of 
charity  and  benevolence  is,  therefore,  all  the  more 
noteworthy  and  all  the  more  commendable. 

Most  of  the  charitable  institutions  are  not  alone  the 
creation,  but  remain  the  special  care,  of  the  Govern- 
ment, and  successive  Presidents  have  very  properly 
devoted  both  their  personal  attention  and  the  country's 
funds  to  the  maintenance  of  these  institutions.  The 
charge  of  these  charities  is  in  the  hands  of  the 
Minister  of  Education,  Public  Works  and  Benevolence. 
I  visited  several  of  the  hospitals  during  my  stay  in  the 
country,  and  I  was  pleasurably  impressed  with  their 
generally  cheerful  and  always  cleanly  appearance. 

The  foremost  institution  of  this  kind  is  the  magnifi- 
cent building  presented,  with  its  entire  equipment, 
to  the  nation  by  the  late  Don  Jos£  Resales,  a  distin- 
guished and  very  wealthy  Salvadorean,  who  not  only 
sustained  the  hospital  during  his  lifetime,  but  be- 
queathed to  its  funds  no  less  than  $4,000,000.  The 
institution  bears  the  name  of  its  generous  founder,  and 
it  is  admirably  conducted  in  every  way.  A  large  staff 
of  competent  physicians  and  a  full  body  of  male  and 
female  nurses  are  always  maintained,  and  as  a  rule  the 
hospital  is  very  well  patronized,  the  kindness  and  the 
skill  of  the  authorities  having  obtained  a  wide 
notoriety.  The  Rosdles  is,  however,  but  one  of  several 
similar  institutions,  the  Government  having  of  late 
years  added  similar  necessary  buildings  to  the  towns 
of  Santa  Ana,  Sonsonate,  Ahuachapdn,  Santa  Tecla, 
Zacatecoluca,  San  Vicente,  San  Miguel,  Alegria, 
Chalatenango  and  La  Uni6n.  It  is  difficult  to  speak 
too  highly  of  the  thoroughly  efficient  manner  in  which 


HOSPITALS  267 

most  of  these  establishments  are  maintained  ;  and 
among  the  many  patients  whom  I  saw,  and  with  whom 
I  conversed,  I  met  with  not  one  who  had  anything  but 
praise  and  gratitude  to  express  for  the  benefits  which 
had  been  received. 

As  an  evidence  of  the  use  to  which  these  institu- 
tions are  put,  I  am  able  to  say  that  during  the  year 
of  1892  some  3,198  patients  were  treated,  of  whom 
2,798  were  discharged  completely  cured,  203  died, 
and  the  rest  remained  under  treatment.  The  total 
amount  expended  in  this  year  was  a  little  over 
$81,000.  Including  all  of  the  hospitals  established 
throughout  the  country,  there  are  annually  admitted 
and  treated  about  8,000  patients,  of  whom  an  average 
of  8  per  cent.  die.  This  cannot  be  considered  a  high 
rate  of  mortality,  considering  the  climate  and  the 
many  tropical  diseases  which  have  to  be  treated. 

In  the  vicinity  of  San  Salvador,  upon  a  beautifully- 
situated  and  very  healthful  spot,  has  been  established 
a  tuberculosis  Sanatorium.  Here  the  open-air  treat- 
ment is  employed  in  conformity  with  the  latest 
recognized  therapeutic  and  hygienic  methods  for  the 
alleviation  and  cure  of  consumption,  which,  as  in 
Mexico,  is  unfortunately  a  common  complaint.  The 
expenses  of  this  Sanatorium  are  met  by  appropriations 
by  the  Federal  and  Municipal  authorities ;  by  contri- 
butions from  industrial  companies,  which  are  usually 
very  open-handed  in  such  matters  ;  and  by  voluntary 
donations  from  benevolent  people  and  institutions.  A 
library  is  maintained  for  the  use  of  the  patients,  and 
all  possible  measures  are  employed  to  mitigate  the 
sad  condition  of  resident  invalids.  So  far,  I  under- 
stand, the  Sanatorium  is  free  from  debt,  and  it  is  so 
excellently  managed  an  institution,  and  is  productive 


268     SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 


of  so  much  real  good,  that  it  is  sincerely  to  be  hoped 
that  it  may  remain  so. 

How  admirable  have  been  the  attempts  made,  and 
how  successful  the  results  achieved,  to  overcome  the 
ravages  of  tuberculosis,  are  best  shown  by  the  follow- 
ing comparative  statistics,  which  give  the  figures  for 
Spanish-American  towns  : 

Mortality  per 
10,000  Inhabitants. 

621 


American  Towns. 


Lima  (Peru)  ... 
Caracas  (Venezuela)     ... 
Kio  de  Janeiro  (Brazil) 
Santiago  (Chile) 
Havana  (Cuba) 
Montevideo  (Uruguay) 
Buenos  Aires  (Argentina) 
Mexico  City  (Mexico)  ... 
San  Salvador  (Salvador) 


60-0 
38-0 
38-0 
32-7 
16-0 
14-2 
14-0 
13-7 


That  Salvador  should  have  the  smallest  number  of 
deaths  among  all  these  Republics  is  a  triumph  for  the 
medical  faculty  and  for  the  Government,  which  have 
conjointly  done  so  much  towards  the  improvement  of 
conditions. 

Many  of  the  sanitary  and  clinical  institutions  in  the 
Republic  have  medical  schools  or  classes  attached,  and 
such  are  naturally  much  better  equipped  with  special 
departments  for  the  eye,  ear,  nose,  throat  and  skin 
diseases.  Fever  hospitals  are  carefully  segregated, 
and  are  most  carefully  controlled,  with  the  idea  of 
avoiding  any  epidemic  breaking  out.  Many  of  the 
attendant  physicians  have  studied  in  Europe  and  the 
United  States. 

The  Superior  Council  of  Health,  of  which  Don 
Tomds  G.  Palomo  is  President,  has  rendered  im- 
portant services  during  the  last  two  years.  The 
Government  is  continually  encouraging  authorities  to 


NEW  NATIONAL  PALACE  AT  SAN  SALVADOR. 


[THEATRE  AT  SANTA  ANA,  DEPARTMENT  OF  SANTA  ANA. 


HEALTH  PROVISIONS  269 

persevere  with  their  sanitary  measures  and  to  compel 
the  public  to  follow  the  instructions  periodically  issued 
by  the  Superior  Council,  and  to  fulfil  the  rules  laid 
down  by  the  Code  of  Laws  relating  to  health.  In  his 
report  for  the  year  1907,  the  President  of  the  Council 
has  said  :  "  In  proportion  as  the  sphere  of  action  of 
the  Council  widens,  so  has  its  beneficial  influence  been 
remarked,  especially  in  some  places  of  the  Republic, 
where  formerly  only  the  most  rudimentary  laws  of 
hygiene  were  known.  Already  a  large  majority  of 
the  municipal  authorities  are  showing  some  aptitude 
in  ameliorating  the  sanitary  conditions  of  their  respec- 
tive localities,  and  if  things  continue  thus  we  shall 
soon  arrive  at  the  complete  banishment  of  endemic 
maladies  from  certain  districts  of  the  Republic." 

In  Salvador  a  pernicious  kind  of  malaria  is  the 
predominating  disease,  and  shows  itself  in  different 
phases  and  manifestations.  The  Council  has  recom- 
mended several  measures  to  minimize  its  effects  ;  but 
the  result  achieved  does  not  altogether  correspond  to 
the  efforts  of  the  authorities,  because,  besides  the 
heavy  expenses  of  the  sanitation  works  in  many  parts 
of  the  country,  the  majority  of  the  people  are  opposed 
to  all  hygienic  measures,  and  through  poverty  are 
condemned  to  live  in  small  dwellings,  which  are  badly 
ventilated  and  damp,  and  consequently  unhealthy. 

In  the  Capital,  at  the  beginning  of  the  year  1907, 
and  at  the  time  of  the  mobilization  of  the  Army, 
several  cases  of  cerebro-spinal  meningitis  presented 
themse]ves.  Those  soldiers  who  were  afflicted  were 
isolated  during  the  march,  first  in  a  ward  of  the 
Rosales  Hospital,  and  afterwards  in  the  Military 
Sanatorium.  This  measure  and  others  that  the 
Council  promptly  ordered  prevented  any  development 


270    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

of  the  epidemic.  In  the  same  manner  four  cases  of 
diphtheria  presented  themselves,  and  altogether, 
through  different  diseases,  1,598  deaths  took  place 
in  San  Salvador  in  that  year.  In  the  same  period  it 
recorded  2,147  births,  giving  as  a  net  result  an 
increase  in  population  of  549  inhabitants. 

Cerebro-spinal  meningitis  also  showed  itself  in 
Santa  Ana  and  at  San  Pedro  Nonualco,  but  the  malady 
did  not  assume  the  character  of  a  real  epidemic. 
During  the  year  1908  a  few  cases  of  meningitis  of  a 
marked  epidemic  character  were  observed,  but  the 
efforts  of  the  Council  secured  the  mastery  over  the 
disease.  Unfortunately,  at  the  end  of  the  year  1909 
smallpox  broke  out  in  the  west  of  the  Republic, 
principally  in  the  Department  of  Santa  Ana. 

The  Council  of  Health  immediately  sent  out  the 
Director-General  of  Vaccination  to  the  above-named 
Department  with  the  necessary  means  to  combat  the 
smallpox.  The  disease  spread,  however,  and  con- 
tinued to  show  itself  in  different  parts  of  the  country, 
so  that  the  Council  was  obliged  to  arrange  for  the 
establishment  of  lazarettos  in  Santa  Ana,  Candelaria, 
and  Santiago  de  la  Frontera,  and  also  to  nominate 
various  travelling  vaccinators  for  each  of  the  Depart- 
ments, at  the  same  time  insisting  upon  sanitary  cordons, 
and,  in  fact,  taking  all  the  measures  that  the  imminent 
peril  demanded.  There  have  been  places  quite 
immune,  and  in  the  Capital  not  more  than  five  cases 
appeared,  all  of  which  were  immediately  isolated. 

The  Supreme  Council  of  the  Red  Cross  has 
upon  all  occasions  collaborated  in  this  campaign 
against  disease,  effective  measures  being  undertaken  by 
the  authorities  against  the  terrible  malady,  and  greatly 
facilitating  the  furnishing  of  the  necessary  funds. 


VACCINATION  271 

The  General  Direction  of  Vaccination  has  its  seat 
in  the  Capital,  and  is  directed  by  Dr.  Rodolfo  B. 
Gonzalez.  In  connection  with  the  Resales  Hospital 
an  Institution  of  Vaccination  has  been  established, 
which  is  under  the  direction  of  Dr.  Gustavo  Baron. 
In  normal  times  as  many  as  a  thousand  tubes  of 
vaccine  are  prepared  monthly.  The  Institute  of 
Vaccination  in  San  Salvador,  I  may  mention,  is  the 
first  that  has  been  established  in  Central  America. 

The  Council,  notwithstanding  the  fact  that  it 
receives  a  large  quantity  of  calf  lymph,  imports  every 
fortnight  further  supplies  of  lymph  from  France  and 
Switzerland,  as  a  provision  against  the  home  supply 
becoming  exhausted  through  any  unforeseen  circum- 
stance. In  the  year  1907  there  were  vaccinated  in  the 
Capital  alone  1,597  men  and  973  women,  while  in  the 
Departments  there  were  4,667  men  and  4,295  women, 
or  a  total  of  11,532  vaccinated  in  this  one  year. 

If  to  these  numbers  are  added  1,000  vaccinated  by 
the  Travelling  Vaccinator  of  the  Department  of  La 
Libertad,  a  total  of  12,532  was  reached — a  figure 
which  will  be  increased  to  at  least  18,000  if  is  taken 
into  account  the  fact  that  in  many  of  the  outlying 
districts  the  number  of  inoculations  which  were  made 
by  special  vaccinators  have  not  been  accounted  for. 

In  the  year  1908  the  number  of  cases  was  doubled, 
so  it  appears  that  in  all  the  Republic  more  than 
40,000  persons  were  vaccinated  in  one  year.  In  the 
first  months  of  1910,  in  which  vaccination  was  en- 
forced with  some  severity,  even  in  the  most  remote 
hamlets,  the  majority  of  the  inhabitants  were  vaccinated 
and  revaccinated.  In  the  ports,  into  which  epidemic 
diseases  are  more  easily  introduced  by  foreign  vessels 
arriving  from  different  infected  ports,  the  Council  has 


272    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

under  its  control  several  competent  medical  officers, 
who  examine  with  the  most  scrupulous  exactness  all 
the  steamers,  and  even  the  small  boats,  which  arrive. 
By  this  means,  up  till  now  the  much-dreaded  yellow 
fever  and  bubonic  plague,  which  have  attacked 
many  ports  of  South  America,  have  not  reached 
Salvador. 

Apart  from  the  Hospitals,  there  are  several  Asylums 
for  the  Insane,  the  Blind  and  Orphans  of  both  sexes. 
The  inmates  receive  a  thoroughly  sound  normal  or 
primary  education,  being  taught  also  carpentry,  shoe- 
making,  needlework,  and  many  other  useful  occupa- 
tions and  trades.  Those  who  desire  to  study  music 
or  electric  telegraphy  as  a  profession  are  permitted, 
and  even  encouraged,  to  do  so.  These  institutions  in 
some  cases  are  under  the  management  of  Sisters  of 
Charity,  and  very  well  they  seem  to  carry  out  their 
merciful  duties.  The  Government  supports  also  an 
Asylum  for  the  Aged  Poor,  and  a  similar  institution 
for  orphans,  in  addition  to  those  which  already  exist. 

One  of  the  most  prominent  members  of  the  Sal- 
vadorean medical  profession  is  Dr.  Federico  Yiidice, 
who  enjoys  an  unusually  large  surgical  practice. 
Dr.  Yridice  has  studied  in  Germany,  and  holds  the 
highest  diplomas  of  the  German  Faculty  of  Medicine, 
as  well  as  in  the  United  States,  from  which  country 
he  also  received  the  most  coveted  diplomas  in  the 
profession.  His  consulting-rooms  are  frequently  well 
filled,  and  his  surgery  and  operating-room  are  replete 
with  the  latest  improved  surgical  apparatus  and 
equipment — in  some  cases  more  replete  in  the  posses- 
sion of  such  scientific  inventions  than  some  of  the 
hospitals  of  Europe.  Although  quite  a  young  man, 
Dr.  Yiidice  is  considered  one  of  the  leading  physicians 


HOSPITALITY  OF  THE  SALVADOREANS       273 

of  San  Salvador,  and  undoubtedly  lie  has  an  excep- 
tionally brilliant  career  before  him. 

Due  to  the  initiative  of  Dr.  Manuel  Enrique  Araujo, 
the  President,  an  important  and  representative  Con- 
gress of  Medical  Scientists  will  assemble  in  San 
Salvador  in  November  of  this  year.  Dr.  Tomas  G. 
Palomo  will  be  the  President  of  the  Congress,  Dr. 
Benjamin  Orozco  the  Vice-President.  Among  others 
who  will  take  part  in  the  deliberations  are — Dr.  Jose 
Llerena,  Jeronimo  Puente,  J.  Max  Olano,  Estanislao 
Van  Severen,  Enrique  Gonzalez  S.,  an  eminent  surgeon- 
dentist,  and  Gustavo  S.  Baron,  who  will  act  as 
treasurer.  Dr.  Pedro  A.  Villacorta,  Dr.  Miguel 
Peralta  L.,  and  Dr.  Rafael  V.  Castro,  will  act  as  joint 
secretaries. 

The  ready  hospitality  which  is  extended  to  the 
stranger  sojourning  for  no  matter  how  short  a  while 
in  Salvador  renders  existence  there  exceptionally 
agreeable.  While,  like  most  Latin- Americans,  far 
from  being  effusive  or  indiscriminate  in  either  their 
friendship  or  their  offers  of  social  entertainment,  the 
Salvadoreans  are  always  pleased  to  show  courtesy  and 
hospitality  to  those  who  are  recommended  or  pre- 
sented to  them,  and  to  these  fortunate  individuals 
nothing  is  denied  in  the  way  of  attention  and  con- 
sideration. San  Salvador  is  especially  kind  to  its 
foreign  visitors,  and  to  all  who  bear  introductions,  or 
who  make  friends  upon  their  own  account,  the  doors 
of  the  Casino  Salvadorefio  are  readily  open,  this  being 
a  club  which  is  well  provided  with  most  of  the  current 
literature,  some  of  which  is  in  English,  and  possesses 
many  pleasant  reading  and  writing  rooms,  as  well  as 
the  usual  complement  of  French  billiard-tables.  It  is 
an  orderly  and  well-managed  establishment,  and  most 

18 


274    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

of  the  better-class  Salvadoreans  belong  to  it.  A  good, 
although  small,  library  is  attached,  and  this  contains 
some  valuable  collections  of  statistical  volumes  and 
several  works  of  reference. 

San  Salvador  has  been  peculiarly  unfortunate  in 
regard  to  the  number  of  serious  conflagrations  which 
have  at  various  times  afflicted  that  city,  and  within 
the  last  ten  or  eleven  years  no  fewer  than  five  such 
disasters  have  overtaken  it.  In  the  month  of  November, 
1889,  the  Palacio  Nacional  was  completely  destroyed 
by  fire,  and,  unfortunately,  many  valuable  archives, 
dating  back  into  the  early  times  of  the  Spaniards, 
when  Salvador  was  still  a  colony,  as  well  as  a  large 
number  of  documents  relating  to  the  Federation,  were 
lost.  In  1900  a  second  fire  destroyed  a  large  area  in 
the  city,  wherein  were  situated  many  of  the  principal 
mercantile  houses.  In  September,  1901,  a  third 
visitation  of  this  kind  destroyed  the  handsome  build- 
ing of  La  Mansi6n  de  la  Presidencia,  as  well  as  the 
barracks  of  La  Guardia  de  Honor.  In  1903  fire 
destroyed  the  entire  building  of  the  Casino  Salva- 
dorefio  ;  and  in  March,  1908,  the  handsome  Zapote 
Barracks  were  seriously  burned ;  while,  as  recorded 
elsewhere,  in  1910  the  Teatro  Nacional,  and  nearly  the 
whole  block  of  buildings  of  which  it  formed  part,  was 
entirely  gutted. 

Like  most  of  the  Latin-American  cities,  San  Salvador 
contains  many  very  handsome  and  appropriate  monu- 
ments erected  to  the  memory  of  its  brave  sons  and 
distinguished  citizens.  Among  these  are  the  tasteful 
statues  dedicated  to  the  memory  of  Dr.  Emilio  Alvarez, 
a  Colombian  physician  who  rendered  eminent  services 
to  his  adopted  country;  another  forms  a  tribute  to 
General  Gerardo  Barrios,  one  of  Salvador's  greatest 


PUBLIC  MONUMENTS  275 

soldiers  and  patriots,  and  a  third,  a  very  fine  work,  is 
an  equestrian  statue  of  General  Morazan,  in  the  park 
which  bears  his  name.  The  monument  of  General 
Barrios  is  also  an  equestrian  statue,  the  General  being 
shown  seated  upon  a  magnificent  granite  column  of 
heroic  proportions. 


CHAPTER  XX 

Department  of  Chalatenango  —  Eich  agricultural  territories  —  Annual 
fair — Generally  prosperous  conditions — Department  of  Cuscatlan — 
City  of  Cojutepeque — Industries— Cigar  factories — Volcanoes — Lake 
of  Cojutepeque — Department  of  Cabanas — Scenic  features — Feast  of 
Santa  Barbara — Department  of  San  Vicente — Public  buildings  and 
roads. 

DEPARTMENT  OF  CHALATENANGO. 

City. — Chalatenango  (1). 

Towns.  —  Tejutla,  San  Ignacio,  San  Francisco, 
Morazan,  San  Rafael,  and  Citala"  (6). 

Fully  two-thirds  of  this  portion  of  the  country 
consist  of  mountain  ranges,  with  long  timber-covered 
spurs,  very  beautiful  to  the  eye,  running  from  their 
bases  in  every  direction.  The  Department  is  bounded 
on  the  north  by  the  Republic  of  Honduras  ;  on  the 
east  by  the  same  Republic  and  the  Department  of 
Cabanas ;  on  the  south  by  the  Departments  of 
Cabanas,  CuscatMn,  San  Salvador,  and  La  Libertad ; 
and  on  the  west  by  Santa  Ana.  The  rich  agricultural 
valley  of  the  Lempa  runs  partly  through  this  section, 
and  many  of  the  tributaries  of  that  river  water  its 
ground.  Immense  tracts  of  agricultural  territory  are 
seen,  upon  which  are  grown  successive  crops  of  indigo, 
corn,  rice,  wheat,  and  beans.  The  several  lofty  chim- 
neys which  are  observed  to  be  dotting  the  country  for 
miles  around  point  to  the  active  manufacturing  that 
goes  on.  These  establishments  comprise  distilleries, 

276 


CHALATENANGO  277 

potteries,  candle,  cheese,  and  turpentine  factories ; 
while  a  large  commerce  is  also  done  by  treating  a 
kind  of  wax  obtained  from  boiling  the  fruit  of  a 
certain  shrub  which  grows  wild  in  this  country  and 
in  great  abundance.  Here,  as  in  most  of  the  parts  of 
Salvador,  general  prosperity  prevails  ;  one  encounters 
hardly  any  very  poor  persons,  either  in  the  streets  or 
begging  upon  the  roadsides. 

The  chief  city  of  this  Department  bears  the  same 
name,  and  it  lies  to  the  south-east  of  the  lofty  moun- 
tains of  La  Pefta  and  on  the  rivers  Tamulasca  and 
Colco.  The  elevation  above  sea-level  is  about  1 ,660  feet, 
while  the  distance  from  the  Capital  is  a  little  over 
forty-five  miles  north-east.  I  should  say  that  Chala- 
tenango  is  about  the  oldest  native  town  in  Salvador, 
and  only  in  1791  did  foreigners  and  white  natives  com- 
mence to  frequent  it  to  any  extent — these,  it  would 
seem,  being  sent  there  by  the  then  Spanish  Governor 
as  a  sort  of  punishment  or  exile.  It  would  certainly 
be  no  punishment  to  abide  there  nowadays  for  a  short 
while,  since  the  surrounding  country  is  remarkably 
beautiful,  the  people  are  very  friendly  and  hospitable, 
and  living  there  is  absurdly  cheap,  judged  from 
European  standards.  The  population  scarcely  exceeds 
6,000,  and  the  whole  of  the  Department  probably  boasts 
of  no  more  than  54,000  or  55,000  inhabitants. 

It  is  at  Chalatenango  that  is  held  annually  on 
June  24,  St.  John  the  Baptist's  Day,  the  most  impor- 
tant and  most  popular  Fair  of  the  year.  Upon  this 
occasion  the  true  native  life  of  Salvadoreans,  the 
quaint  and  picturesque  costumes,  and  many  articles 
of  barter  which  never  see  the  light  at  any  other  time, 
may  be  met  with.  Anyone  travelling  in  Salvador  at 
this  period  may  be  recommended  to  visit  Chalatenango, 


278      SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

if  only  to  witness  this  annual  gathering,  which  is 
attended  by  people  of  every  class  from  all  parts  of  the 
Republic.  A  more  orderly  or  a  happier  crowd  it  would 
be  difficult  to  meet  with,  and,  what  is  more  to  the  point, 
they  form  a  particularly  clean-looking  crowd.  The 
fact  is  that  St.  John  the  Baptist's  Day  is  the  one  day 
upon  which  every  devout  Catholic  makes  a  point  of 
having  a  bath — if  at  no  other  period  of  the  year — and 
this  may  possibly  have  something  to  do  with  it.  If  it 
were  of  Mexico  that  I  was  writing  instead  of  Salvador, 
I  should  say  that  this  circumstance  might  possibly 
have  everything  to  do  with  it. 

DEPARTMENT  OF  CUSCATLIN. 

Cities. — Cojutepeque,  Suchitoto  (2). 

Towns. — San  Pedro  Perulapan,  Tenancingo,  San 
Rafael,  and  Guyabal  (4). 

At  one  time  this  Department  was  the  largest,  or  one 
of  the  largest,  in  Salvador ;  but  successive  rearrange- 
ments of  the  area  of  the  Department  for  political 
purposes  have  robbed  it  of  much  of  its  original 
territory.  It  was  established  as  a  separate  entity  in 
May,  1855,  before  which  it  was  made  up  of  a  great 
deal  of  land  which  now  belongs  to  Chalatenango. 
Again,  in  1875  it  was  forced  to  contribute  a  portion  of 
its  diminished  possessions  in  order  to  form  the  new 
Department  of  Cabanas.  However,  Cuscatlan  did  not 
part  with  either  of  its  two  pet  volcanoes — Cojutepeque 
and  Guazapa — nor  was  it  ever  asked  to  do  so. 

Bordering  this  section  are  the  Departments  of 
Cabanas  and  Chalatenango  on  the  north,  Cabanas  and 
San  Vicente  on  the  east,  San  Vicente  and  La  Paz  on 
the  south,  and  San  Salvador  on  the  west.  Most  of  its 


COJUTEPEQUE  279 

territory  is  richly  productive,  agriculture  being  carried 
on  by  practically  the  whole  population  in  some  form  or 
other,  and  fine  crops  of  coffee,  sugar,  indigo,  rice, 
tobacco,  cereals,  and  such  products  as  starch  and 
cheese,  come  out  of  Cuscatlan,  and  find  their  diverse 
ways  about  the  country.  A  great  gathering  is  held 
annually  in  the  chief  city,  Cojutepeque,  on  St.  John's 
Day  (not  the  Baptist),  August  29,  while  the  other 
city,  Suchitoto,  has  its  own  particular  gala- day  on 
the  Feast  of  the  Conception,  December  8,  a  good  deal 
of  friendly  rivalry  existing  between  the  merchants  and 
traders  of  each  town.  Buyers  and  manufacturers 
come  to  these  meetings  from  all  over  the  Republic,  and 
very  extensive  are  the  transactions  carried  out  in 
cattle,  cheese,  indigo,  native  products,  and  many  kinds 
of  foreign  merchandise. 

Cojutepeque,  which  is  connected  by  road  to  Ilobasco 
and  Sensuntepeque,  is  an  extremely  romantic-looking, 
and  as  picturesquely-situated,  city,  with  a  population 
of  between  8,000  and  9,000  inhabitants.  It  lies  upon 
the  northern  slope  of  the  volcano  of  the  same  name, 
not  very  far  from  the  summit.  Although  the  situation 
is  from  a  climatic  point  of  view  very  agreeable,  it 
somewhat  interferes  with  the  success  of  the  water- 
supply  to  the  town.  The  surrounding  country  is 
agricultural,  and  the  markets  bear  sufficient  testimony 
to  the  great  variety  and  high-class  character  of  the 
produce  which  is  raised.  Cigar-making  is  one  of  the 
most  important  trades  carried  on  in  the  town,  and  the 
excellent  quality  and  the  delightful  aroma  of  Cojute- 
peque cigars  are  known  and  appreciated  all  through 
Central  America.  One  of  the  factories  which  I  visited 
was  managed  and  owned  entirely  by  a  lady  and  her 
family,  all  of  good  birth  and  sound  education.  Their 


280     SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

factory  was  a  model  of  cleanliness  and  orderliness,  and 
many  of  the  employe's  had  been  with  the  proprietors 
for  a  great  number  of  years. 

An  exceedingly  comfortable  and  well-maintained 
hotel  at  Cojutepeque  is  that  known  as  La  America, 
kept  by  Senor  Diaz,  and  whereat  the  guests  are  made 
to  feel  completely  "  at  home."  Senor  Diaz  is  one  of 
the  good  old-fashioned  "  Boniface  "  type  of  landlord, 
for,  in  conjunction  with  his  charming  wife  and 
daughter  and  his  young  son,  Cayetano,  he  personally 
looks  after  each  individual  who  patronizes  his  estab- 
lishment, consulting  each  taste  and  idiosyncrasy,  and 
carefully  pandering  thereto.  The  rooms  in  the  Hotel 
America  are  exceptionally  large  and  airy,  while  all 
meals  are  served  to  the  guests  in  a  delightful  open 
patio,  completely  surrounded  by  masses  of  tropical 
bloom — great  clustering  rose-bushes,  clematis,  and 
honeysuckle,  towering  palms  and  sweet  -  scented 
orange-blossom — a  veritable  fairyland  of  colour  and 
perfume. 

The  town  is  not  only  well  built,  but  is  conveniently 
arranged  in  spite  of  the  decided  irregularity  of  the 
streets,  caused  by  the  slope  of  the  volcano  upon  which 
they  are  built.  On  three  different  occasions  Cojute- 
peque has  been  made  the  Capital  of  the  Republic,  and 
upon  one  occasion — viz.,  November  6,  1857 — it  was 
very  seriously  damaged  by  earthquake.  The  three 
active  volcanoes  of  San  Salvador,  San  Jacinto,*  and 
Cojutepeque,  have  all  contributed  in  their  time  to 
alarming  and  damaging  the  city.  The  last-named 
volcano  is  3,351  feet  in  height,  and  is  located  in 
latitude  13°  42'  22"  N,  and  longitude  88°  56'  26"  W. 

Lake  Cojutepeque  ranks  second  in  importance  as  to 
size  and  scenic  beauty  to  Lake  Ilopango  ;  it  lies  north- 


GENERAL  JUAN  AMAYA  281 

east  of  the  volcano  of  Santa  Ana,  and  is  of  a  roughly 
elliptical  shape,  about  four  miles  long  and  three  miles 
wide,  the  major  axis  having  a  direction  about  north- 
east and  south-west.  This  lake  has  no  visible  outlet, 
and  its  waters,  although  somewhat  impregnated  with 
salts,  can  be  used  for  drinking  without  any  danger. 
To  every  outward  appearance  the  lake  gives  the  im- 
pression that  it  had  once  been  the  crater  of  the 
attendant  volcano,  lying  as  it  does  upon  its  northern 
slope.  This  is  more  apparent  from  a  distant  view 
of  the  entire  mass  of  the  Santa  Ana  volcano,  such 
as  can  be  obtained  from  the  summit  of  the  neigh- 
bouring volcano,  San  Salvador.  The  present  peak  of 
Santa  Ana  from  this  position  seems  to  have  been  built 
up  from  the  rim  of  the  ancient  crater,  which  is  now 
occupied  by  the  lake. 

General  Juan  Amaya,  Governor  of  the  State  of 
Cuscatlan,  has  worked  very  zealously,  and  with 
conspicuous  success,  to  make  it  one  of  the  most 
progressive  of  the  various  political  Departments  of 
the  Republic.  Under  his  direction,  and  with  the 
active  support  of  General  Figueroa  while  President, 
new  and  handsome  roadways  have  been  made,  pure 
water  and  free  public  baths  have  been  introduced ; 
the  whole  Department  now  presents  the  appearance 
of  being  under  a  highly  intelligent  and  enterprising 
Government.  General  Juan  Amaya  was  elected  last 
May  (1911),  under  the  authority  of  Article  68  of  the 
Constitution,  Third  Designate  to  succeed  to  the 
Presidency  in  case  of  a  vacancy  occurring  during 
the  present  term  (see  p.  38). 


282      SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

DEPARTMENT  OF  CABALAS. 

Cities. — Sensuntepeque,  Ilobasco  (2). 

Towns.  —  Victoria,  Dolores,  San  Isidro,  Jutiapa, 
Tejutepeque  (5). 

This  Department  is  principally  of  interest  on  ac- 
count of  the  gold  (see  Chapter  on  Mining)  which  has 
been  found,  as  well  as  the  prosperous  industry  in 
indigo  which  is  carried  on  there.  It  is  bounded  on 
the  north  and  north-east  by  the  Republic  of  Honduras, 
on  the  east  by  the  Department  of  San  Miguel,  on  the 
south  by  the  Departments  of  San  Vicente  and  Cus- 
catlan,  and  on  the  west  by  the  last  named  only.  The 
greater  portion  of  the  territory  consists  of  mountains, 
which  take  the  form  of  lofty  ranges  and  chains,  giving 
a  wild  and  picturesque  character  to  the  country,  and 
in  parts  even  a  somewhat  forlorn  appearance.  Par- 
ticularly desolate  are  the  eastern  and  northern  parts 
of  the  Department,  which,  however,  can  boast  in  other 
directions  of  many  beautiful  and  fertile  valleys,  which 
produce  in  abundance  such  crops  as  indigo,  rice,  corn, 
and  several  other  kinds  of  grain.  In  regard  to  manu- 
factures, there  are  earthenware,  lime,  cheese,  and  other 
factories,  as  well  as  one  or  two  distilleries.  A  very 
active  commerce  is  carried  on  ;  and  here,  as  elsewhere 
in  the  Republic,  the  greatest  day  out  of  the  twelve 
months  is  the  one  kept  for  the  annual  Fair,  whereat 
one  meets  a  veritable  "  gathering  of  the  clans,"  the 
number  of  Indians  who  attend,  for  instance,  lending 
great  interest  to  the  meeting.  The  rendezvous  is  at 
Sensuntepeque,  and  the  date  selected  is  the  day 
devoted  to  Santa  Barbara — namely,  December  4. 
The  Saint,  as  may  be  remembered,  was  a  Christian 
Martyr  of  the  third  century,  and  the  patron  of  artillery. 


SENSUNTEPEQUE  283 

She  was  beheaded  by  her  father,  who  is  said  to  have 
been  struck  dead  by  lightning  immediately  after  the 
act,  which  was  but  poetic  justice.  Why  the  mis- 
fortunes of  this  young  lady,  however,  should  particu- 
larly appeal  to  the  good  people  of  Sensuntepeque  I 
could  not  find  out.  But  she  always  has  been  and 
remains  their  patron  Saint. 

Sensuntepeque  is  joined  up  with  Cojutepeque  by 
a  well-constructed  cart-road,  which  likewise  serves 
Ilobasco.  Another  equally  good  road  runs  from 
Sensuntepeque  to  Apastepeque,  in  the  Department 
of  San  Vicente ;  and  these  thoroughfares  are  kept  in 
a  good  state  of  maintenance,  especially  in  preparation 
for  the  heavy  rainy  season,  when  otherwise  they  would 
become  impassable,  and  internal  communication  would 
be  practically  at  a  standstill. 

The  city  of  Sensuntepeque  is  situated,  as  are  so 
many  other  Salvadorean  towns,  on  a  mountain  slope, 
in  this  case  the  location  being  on  the  southern  de- 
clivity of  the  mountain  Pelon,  and  at  an  elevation 
of  some  2,310  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea.  It 
is  located  about  fifty-seven  miles  distant  north-east 
from  the  Capital.  A  decidedly  picturesque  little  place 
it  is,  but  one  which  contains,  all  the  same,  over 
10,000  inhabitants,  the  majority  of  whom  are  con- 
cerned in  the  cultivation  or  treatment  of  indigo.  The 
city  has  many  handsome  edifices — such,  for  instance,  as 
the  fine  Town  Hall,  several  Government  school  build- 
ings, a  prison  (which  is  a  model  institution  of  its  kind), 
and  several  handsome  churches.  Additionally  there 
are  a  very  attractive  parque,  beautifully  laid  out  with 
plants  and  green  grass-plots  ;  a  capital  public  bathing- 
place  ;  and  a  number  of  attractive  private  residences, 
solidly  built,  and  faced  with  either  stucco  or  tiles. 


284     SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

Very  few  foreigners  seem  to  find  their  way  to  this 
place,  which  is  to  be  regretted ;  for  not  alone  would 
they  be  made  to  feel  very  welcome,  the  people  being 
particularly  friendly  and  hospitably  inclined,  but  the 
climate  has  a  most  exhilarating  effect,  and  for  the 
greater  portion  of  the  year  it  is  nothing  less  than 
delightful.  Very  little  poverty  seems  to  exist  here, 
and,  from  what  I  heard  and  saw,  it  seems  that  prac- 
tically every  member  of  a  family  in  Sensuntepeque  is 
employed  regularly  and  remuneratively  in  some  kind 
of  manner. 

DEPARTMENT  OF  SAN  VICENTE. 

It  would  be  no  exaggeration  to  describe  this  Depart- 
ment as  scenically  the  most  beautiful  in  the  Republic 
of  Salvador.  It  affords  almost  every  style  of  scenery 
— high  mountains,  towering  volcanoes,  delightful 
valleys,  and  a  perfectly  astounding  collection  of  hot 
springs,  or  infiewillos.  The  Department  is  bounded 
on  the  north  by  the  Department  of  Cabanas,  on  the 
east  by  the  Departments  of  San  Miguel  and  Usulutaii, 
on  the  south  by  the  Pacific  Ocean,  and  on  the  west  by 
the  Departments  of  La  Paz  and  CuscatUn.  One  of 
the  highest  mountains — needless  to  say  it  is  a  volcano 
—is  situated  here,  and  bears  the  name  of  the  Saint 
who  founded  the  Society  of  the  Lazarists  and  the 
Sisterhood  of  Charity.  This  most  imposing  mountain 
has  a  double  cone,  which  towers  very  gracefully  above 
the  numerous  attendant  hills.  It  was  last  known  to 
erupt  in  1643,  but  it  looks  capable  of  a  repetition  of 
the  performance  in  all  its  grandeur  at  any  time.  In 
height  it  stands  7,131  feet,  and  its  approximate  posi- 
tion is  given  at  13°  35'  24"  N.  latitude,  and  88  3 1 
W.  longitude. 


PUBLIC  PARK  AT  COICTEPEQUE,  DEPARTMENT  OF  CVSCATLAX, 


BARRACKS  AT  COJCTEPEQUE,  DEPARTMENT  OF  CCSCATLAX. 


SAN  VICENTE  285 

I  first  caught  a  glimpse  of  the  majestic  mountain 
while  staying  at  Cojutepeque,  but  it  was  then  a  long 
way  distant.  There  are  two  other  volcanoes,  Chichon- 
tepec  and  Siguatepeque — the  former  the  highest  moun- 
tain in  the  Republic — but  they  are  pronounced  to 
be  extinct.  The  summit  of  this  monster  is  8,661  feet 
above  the  level  of  the  sea,  and  it  is  notable  for  the 
number  of  active  geysers  which  exist  on  the  northern 
slope,  and  which  continually  send  out  volumes  of 
steam  accompanied  by  terrifying  but  apparently  harm- 
less terrestrial  rumblings,  which  can  be  distinctly 
heard  as  far  away  as  three  or  four  miles.  But  the 
mountain  is  quite  unoffending,  I  understand,  the  said 
geysers  proving  the  safety-valves  for  its  occasional 
internal  disturbances. 

San  Vicente  was  created  a  Department  in  1836,  and 
its  territory  embraces  a  portion  of  what  formerly 
formed  one  of  the  "  territorial  divisions "  of  the 
country  existing  under  Spanish  rule,  while  the 
eastern  portion  was  originally  part  of  Cabanas.  The 
amount  of  commerce  which  is  carried  on  is  consider- 
able, and  during  the  past  few  years  has  made  decided 
strides  in  actual  volume.  Besides  supplying  a  large 
amount  of  agricultural  produce,  such  as  indigo,  coffee, 
sugar,  tobacco,  timber,  cereals,  and  all  kinds  of  fruits, 
there  are  several  manufactories  which  turn  out  silk 
shawls,  shoes,  hats,  starch,  salt,  and  cigars,  as  well  as 
sundry  distilleries. 

The  annual  Fair  is  held  here  on  All  Saints'  Day— 
namely,  November  1 — and  the  city  is  then  very  gay 
from  morning  to  night.  Upon  this  occasion  the  trans- 
actions carried  out  between  the  permanent  residents 
and  the  visitors  run  into  high  figures,  quantities  of 
local  produce  and  merchandise  being  bought  and  sold, 


286     SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

the  articles  of  trade  consisting  mainly  of  indigo,  cheese, 
cattle,  grain,  and  the  retailing  of  certain  foreign  goods. 

The  principal  city,  San  Vicente,  is  a  very  picturesque 
and  romantic-looking  town,  one  of  the  oldest,  if  not 
quite  the  most  ancient,  in  this  part  of  the  country, 
dating  as  a  city  as  far  back  as  1658,  while  it  was 
founded  as  a  town  in  1634.  To-day,  however,  the 
streets  have  been  straightened -out  and  well  paved, 
while  a  number  of  very  pleasant  suburbs,  each  with 
its  gardens  and  avenues  of  trees,  lend  additional 
attractiveness  as  one  approaches  the  place  from  the 
main-road.  There  are  a  number  of  excellent  buildings 
already  erected,  and  several  others  of  altogether  im- 
posing dimensions  and  structural  pretensions  were 
going  up  when  I  visited  the  town. 

It  has  long  been  the  desire  of  the  Government  to 
unite  San  Vicente  with  San  Salvador  by  railroad,  and 
the  line  would  run  via  San  Miguel,  the  second  city  in 
the  Republic,  and  La  Uni6n,  its  finest  seaport,  thus 
securing  also  an  all-rail  route  between  Acajutla,  the 
most  important  western  port,  and  La  Union,  on  the 
extreme  east  of  the  Gulf  of  Fonseca.  The  survey  was 
made  many  years  ago,  and  the  line  has  been  proved 
to  be  a  practicable  one,  although  the  work  would  no 
doubt  be  heavy  and  costly,  since  much  grading,  heavy 
protective  masonry,  and  many  bridges,  would  have 
to  be  undertaken.  The  distance  would  be  about 
67*9  kilometres  (42*2  miles)  between  San  Salvador 
and  San  Vicente  by  this  line  of  railway,  and  the 
cost  of  the  line  has  been  estimated  at  not  less  than 
$2,157,433  (say  £431,486),  or  an  average  of  $51,124 
( =  £10,225)  per  mile.  The  maximum  grade  in  this  loca- 
tion would  be  2*8  per  cent.,  and  the  sharpest  curves 
41  degrees  (radius  410*3  feet  or  125' 1  millimetres). 


CHAPTER  XXI 

Department  of  La  Libertad — Physical  characteristics — Balsam  Coast — 
Santa  Tecla — Department  ot  Sonsonate — Life  and  hotels — Depart- 
ment of  Ahuachapan — City  of  Ahuachapan — Public  buildings  and 
baths — Projected  railway  extension — Department  of  Santa  Ana- 
Chief  city — Generally  prosperous  conditions. 


DEPARTMENT  OF  LA  LIBERTAD. 

Cities. — Santa  Tecla,  Opico  (2). 

Towns. — La  Libertad,  Teotepeque,  Quezaltepeque  (3). 

This  Department,  ranks  second  in  importance  to  San 
Salvador,  although  its  population  is  less  than  that  of 
either  the  Departments,  of  Santa  Ana,  of  CuscatMn, 
or  of  San  Miguel.  It  is  joined  by  excellently-made 
cart-roads  to  both  the  Capital  and  to  San  Vicente.  As 
far  back  as  1896,  Mr.  J.  Imbrie  Miller,  an  American 
engineer,  formerly  a  member  of  the  Intercontinental 
Railway  Commission,  was  engaged  in  surveying  a  light 
line  of  railway  from  La  Libertad  to  Santa  Tecla.  Some 
years  later  another  American,  Lieutenant  Kennon, 
proceeded  there  to  take  observations  for  connecting 
the  triangulation  with  the  astronomical  monument 
established  there  by  the  United  States  Hydrographic 
Office. 

The  boundaries  of  this  Department  are  as  follows  : 
On  the  north,  the  Department  of  Chalatenango  ;  on 
the  east,  San  Salvador  and  La  Paz  ;  on  the  south,  the 
Pacific  Ocean;  on  the  west,  the  Departments  of 

287 


288     SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

Sonsonate  and  Santa  Ana.  The  physical  features  of 
this  part  of  the  Republic  are  remarkable.  The  central 
portion  of  the  Department  is  very  mountainous,  being 
crossed  from  east  to  west  by  the  coastal  range  of 
mountains  and  the  system  of  the  volcano  of  Quezalte- 
peque.  The  surface  of  the  ground  is  considerably 
broken  up  by  a  great  number  of  well-defined  spurs, 
which  extend  from  the  mountain  range  to  the  very 
borders  of  the  ocean  itself.  To  the  west  of  the 
volcano  is  situated  an  immense  basin  known  as 
Sapotitau.  The  northern  portion  is  traversed  by  lofty 
ridges  between  which  are  found  a  number  of  beauti- 
fully fertile  plains. 

Fortunately  for  the  good  people  of  La  Libertad,  the 
giant  volcano  Quezaltepeque  has  long  ceased  to 
trouble  them,  and,  indeed,  it  is  said  to  be  extinct ;  it 
is,  however,  never  safe  to  speak  too  confidently  upon 
this  matter,  since  Nature  has  a  rude  manner  of  dis- 
illusioning us  at  times.  This  particular  volcano,  it 
may  be  said,  has  been  quiescent  so  long  that  for  many 
years  it  has  been  regarded  as  quite  harmless.  It 
stands  nearly  7,400  feet  high  above  sea-level,  the 
upper  part  forming  a  cone  occupied  by  a  crater  which 
is  between  seven  and  eight  miles  in  circumference,  and 
1,100  feet  deep  ;  at  the  bottom  lies  a  small  lake. 

It  is  in  this  Department  that  is  located  the  famous 
Balsam  Coast,  and  as  I  speak  very  fully  elsewhere  (see 
Chapter  XVII.)  of  the  valuable  tree  which  grows  there, 
with  its  usefulness  to  the  country  as  a  means  of  sub- 
stantial revenue,  it  is  unnecessary  to  do  more  than 
mention  that  the  valleys  where  the  trees  are  found  are 
extremely  fertile  ;  and  besides  yielding  the  particular 
spice  in  question,  they  produce  rich  harvests  of  coffee, 
sugar,  indigo,  corn,  rice,  and  timber.  Here  are  to  be 


SANTA  TECLA  289 

found  additionally  several  successful  sugar  refineries 
and  distilleries,  as  well  as  some  sawmills  and  many 
prosperous  coffee  estates  with  their  rather  antiquated 
machinery  installations.  In  fact,  the  commerce  of  La 
Libertad  is  of  prime  importance,  and  is  increasing  in 
volume  and  value  year  by  year. 

The  capital  of  the  Department  is  Santa  Tecla  (New 
San  Salvador),  a  town  which  is  most  agreeably  situated 
at  the  foot  of  the  volcano  of  San  Salvador,  where  it 
nestles  snugly,  absolutely  indifferent   to  the  violent 
reputation  of  its  gigantic  guardian.     The  height  above 
sea-level  of  this  charming  little  place  is  2,643  feet,  and 
it  is  only  ten  miles  distant  from  the  Capital  City.     It 
really  owes  its  existence  to  the  misfortunes  which  over- 
took the  former  some  half  a  century  ago,  and  to-day  it 
is  one  of  the  most  favourite  places  of  residence  in  the 
Republic.     Wide  and  handsome  streets  and  many  fine 
residences  are  the  principal  features  of  Santa  Tecla, 
which  likewise  boasts   of  a  large  and  well-laid-out 
parque,  several  handsome  drives,  and  its  own  pleasant 
little  suburbs.     Notable  among  its  buildings  are  the 
Hospital,  the  Town  Hall,  the  Government  Offices,  the 
Hospicio  Guirola,  built  at  his  own  expense  by  the  late 
Don  Angel  Guirola,  one  of  Salvador's  most  esteemed 
and  wealthiest  citizens,  and  two  fine  churches.     The 
population  amounts  to  between   11,000  and  11,500, 
and  easy  connection  is  made  with  San  Salvador  by 
regular  trains,  which  have  now  taken  the  place  of 
an  old  horse -railroad.     The   street  lighting  in  the 
town  of  Santa  Tecla  is  carried  out  by  private  enter- 
prise, and  it  is  very  well  done.     In  the  month  of 
March,  1907,  an  agreement  was  entered  into  between 
the   Government  and   La   Compania   de  Alumbrado 
El^ctrico,  of  San  Salvador,  for  the  installation  in  the 

19 


290     SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

city  of  Nueva  San  Salvador  for  the  street  lighting  by 
thirty-seven  arc  lamps  of  1,200  candle-power  and 
ninety-three  incandescent  lamps  of  16  candle-power. 
This  agreement  is  for  ten  years,  and  so  far  it  has 
afforded  general  satisfaction. 

THE  DEPARTMENT  OF  SONSONATE. 

Cities. — Sonsonate,  Izalco  (2). 

Towns. — Nahuizalco,  El  Progreso,  Armenia  (3). 

This  Department  gains  importance  from  two  circum- 
stances :  Firstly,  it  contains  the  principal  port  of  the 
Republic — Acajutla — of  which  a  full  description  will 
be  found  under  Chapter  XVI.,  "  Ports  and  Harbours  "  ; 
and,  secondly,  because  its  main  city,  bearing  the  same 
name,  has  already  attained  great  commercial  signifi- 
cance, and  is  rapidly  rivalling  the  Capital  itself  in  the 
volume  of  its  trade.  The  boundaries  of  the  Depart- 
ment are  as  follows  :  On  the  north,  by  the  Department 
of  Santa  Ana ;  on  the  east,  by  La  Libertad  ;  on  the 
south,  by  the  Pacific  Ocean ;  and  on  the  west,  by  the 
Department  of  Ahuachapan.  The  northern  portion  of 
the  ground  surface  is  a  mass  of  mountains,  of  many 
varied  heights  and  shapes  ;  on  the  coast,  however,  it  is 
very  level  for  a  certain  distance,  from  which  point  it 
rises  gradually  in  a  series  of  gentle  slopes  and  rolling 
hills,  until  these  lose  themselves  in  the  spurs  of  the 
surrounding  mountain  ranges.  It  is  a  truly  enchanting 
country,  as  fair  and  as  fertile  as  the  eye  could  wish  to 
dwell  upon  ;  and  away  from  the  seacoast,  where 
it  is  marshy  and  damp,  the  climate  is  found  to  be 
delightful  for  the  greater  part  of  the  year. 

Here  also  some  stretches  of  the  famous  Balsam 
Coast  are  to  be  met  with,  the  trees  being  more  numer- 


SONSONATE  291 

cms  and  even  higher,  than  those  in  the  La  Libertad 
Department. 

Acajutla  must  always  serve  to  bring  prosperity  to 
Sonsonate,  which,  as  a  department,  was  created  in  1855. 
Its  principal  agricultural  productions  comprise  coffee, 
cocoannts,  sugar,  cacao,  balsam,  tobacco,  cereals  of 
almost  all  kinds,  fruits  of  endless  variety,  and  an 
immense  number  of  different  cabinet  woods  and  fibres. 
There  are  a  considerable  number  of  factories  erected 
in  this  same  Department,  employing  many  hundreds 
of  hands,  and  turning  out  refined  sugar,  cigars,  cotton, 
cloth,  pottery,  mats,  baskets,  distilled  liqueurs,  and 
salt.  The  principal  city,  Sonsonate,  is  situated  some 
fifty  miles  from  San  Salvador,  and  stands  picturesquely 
upon  the  banks  of  the  River  Sensunapan.  Compara- 
tively speaking,  this  is  but  a  small  stream ;  neverthe- 
less, from  a  scenic  point  of  view,  it  is  decidedly  worthy 
of  mention.  It  is  crossed  by  a  handsome  bridge,  and 
its  banks  are  often  used  as  a  pleasant  promenade  and 
bathing-place  by  the  inhabitants  of  this  agreeable 
town. 

At  Sonsonate,  which,  with  Santa  Ana,  is  one  of  the 
several  towns  in  Salvador  on  the  route  of  the  itinerant 
theatrical  companies,  there  is  a  small  wooden-built 
room,  which  forms  part  of  the  Hotel  Blanco  y  Xegro, 
kept  by  a  very  courteous  and  obliging  Spaniard,  one 
Senor  Arturo  de  Soto,  who,  with  the  profits  derived 
from  the  cantina  adjoining,  finds  in  this  undertaking 
the  investment  of  his  capital  to  be  fairly  profitable. 
The  stage  of  the  unambitious  little  playhouse  is  exactly 
18  feet  wide  by  9  feet  deep,  so  that  the  precise  limit 
of  the  mounting  of  dramatic  representations  presented 
thereon  may  be  fairly  accurately  gauged. 

The  climate  of  Sonsonate  is  decidedly  warm  for  the 


29*     SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

greater  part  of  the  year,  and  not  at  all  unpleasant  in 
the  dry  season,  except  for  the  fearful  wind-storms  to 
which  it  is  at  times  subjected.  Upon  these  occasions 
the  whole  town  is  temporarily  hidden  in  clouds  of 
gritty  dust,  which,  moreover,  penetrate  every  crack 
and  crevice  of  the  tightly-closed  house  shutters,  cover 
the  merchants'  goods  exposed  for  sale  in  the  shops 
with  a  thick  layer  of  dirt,  and  render  life  generally, 
for  the  time  being,  something  of  a  burden.  So  strong 
is  the  wind  that  it  whirls  around  in  a  sort  of  wild 
maelstrom  every  stray  piece  of  paper,  stick,  or  any 
loose  rubbish  which  it  can  gather,  and  then  deposits 
them  impartially  in  the  patios  and  upon  the  roofs  of 
the  houses,  at  the  same  time  mAVing  complete  havoc 
of  gardens  and  parks. 

The  market  at  Sonsonate,  an  important  weekly 
function,  is  held  on  Sundays.  The  building,  com- 
pletely roofed  over,  as  are  all  similar  constructions  in 
Latin-America,  is  crowded  to  excess  with  sellers,  the 
number  of  buyers,  however,  being  considerably  fewer. 
Every  kind  of  article  is  exposed  for  sale,  from  stuffed 
and  roasted  monkeys  to  the  cheapest  kind  of  Man- 
chester cotton  goods  and  cheaper  German  imitations. 
The  stalls  are  separated  into  sections,  and  practically 
all  of  them  are  presided  over  by  women.  It  cannot 
be  said  that  the  majority  of  the  edibles  look  very 
tempting  from  a  European  point  of  view,  being  for 
the  most  part  covered  with  grease  or  floating  in  a  thick 
and  sticky  compound  of  fat  of  a  bilious-yellow  colour. 
To  the  local  taste  these  articles  of  diet  no  doubt 
appeal  strongly,  since  a  brisk  trade  is  carried  on  in 
them.  Cheap  and  tawdry  fancy  goods,  highly-coloured 
and  cheaply-framed  religious  pictures,  toys,  flimsy 
dress  material,  tinselly  embroideries,  parrots,  pencils, 


SONSONATE  293 

pastry,  and  other  curiously  diverse  articles,  are  to  be 
found  displayed  in  immediate  proximity  to  dried  fish 
—  emitting  a  powerful  and  pungent  odour  —  lire 
iguanas  (a  large  species  of  edible  lizard),  squawking 
fowls,  and  repulsive-looking  chunks  of  bleeding, 
freshly-killed  beef.  Altogether  an  active,  if  not 
exactly  an  attractive,  market-place,  and  one  which 
offers  a  continually  shifting  scene  of  life  and  colour, 
t"HQumi^  imn  s'-inrisc  ir  simsci. 

In  regard  to  hotel  accommodation,  Sonsonate  is 
decidedly  better  off  than  many  towns  outside  the 
Capital  There  are  at  least  three  booses  from  among 
which  the  traveller  may  make  his  choice. 

The  Grand  Hotel  is  situated  immediately  facing  the 
railway-station,  and,  although  far  from  attractive  ex- 
ternally, it  is  quite  comfortable  and  clean  within. 
The  rooms,  if  small,  are  fairly  well-furnished ;  the 
dining-room  is  kept  scrupulously  clean,  and  the 
domestic  service  generally  is  prompt  and  willing. 
Hie  baths  which  are  found  here  are  not  at  all  bad, 
and  are  likewise  kept  very  dean.  A  good  business  is 
carried  on,  apparently,  by  the  proprietors,  Messrs. 
Brando  y  Emddi,  since  every  train  on  the  Salvador 
Railway  steps  at  Sonsonate,  whether  proceeding  north 
or  sooth,  or,  more  strictly  speaking,  east  or  west. 
Before  its  journey  iron  die  port  of  Acajutla  to  the 
capital  of  Sam  Salvador,  the  train  remains  for  one 
hour,  and  the  down-train  remains  for  two  hours. 
Inasmuch  as  the  hotel  maintains  quite  a  respectable 
ceDar,  and  there  is  plenty  of  time  for  the  passengers 
to  test  its  contents,  the  proprietors  find  this  part  of  the 
hotel  business  a  remarkably  profitable  one. 

The  hotel  in  this  town  of  tr&***H  importance  is 
£1  Blanco  j  Xegro  (Hack  and  White).  The  situation 


294      SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

is  decidedly  preferable  to  that  of  the  Grand,  being  in 
a  side  but  wide  street,  out  of  hearing  range  of  the 
inevitable  noise  proceeding  at  the  railway-station,  but 
in  other  respects  it  is  less  attractive  to  the  many. 

DEPARTMENT  OF  AHTJACHAPAN. 

Cities. — Ahuachapan,  Atiqnizaya  (2). 

Being  the  immediate  neighbour  of  the  sister  Republic 
of  Guatemala,  this  Department  was  once  destined  to 
become  the  route  for  the  railway  which  was  to — and 
may  yet — connect  up  the  two  States  by  an  iron  link. 
It  is  bounded  on  the  north  and  the  west  by  this 
Republic,  and  on  the  east  by  the  Departments  of 
Sonsonate  and  Santa  Ana.  Very  rugged  and  very  wild 
is  the  northern  part  of  the  country,  but  there  are 
several  level  plains  north  of  the  coastal  range  of 
mountains  which  crosses  the  country  from  east  to 
west.  Here  are  also  several  active  volcanoes;  the 
number  of  hot  springs  and  sulphur  baths  should  one 
day  draw  considerable  visitors,  more  especially  since 
the  waters,  medicinally  speaking,  are  said  to  rank 
among  the  most  wonderfully  curative  in  the  world. 
If  these  springs  and  baths  were  located  anywhere  but 
in  little-known  Salvador,  they  would  probably  be 
thronged  with  patients  from  all  over  the  globe, 
seeking  their  beneficent  and  speedy  aid  against  the 
ravages  of  blood  complaints,  rheumatism,  and  skin 


As  a  Department,  Ahuachapan  was  "created"  in 
1869,  having  formerly  been  considered  as  parts  of  the 
Departments  of  Santa  Ana  and  Sonsonate.  It  pos- 
sesses the  unmatched  Valley  of  Chalchuapa,  which  for 
extreme  fertility  and  magnificent  climate  will  compare 


AHUACHAPAN  295 

with  any  similar  country  in  Latin-America.  Agricul- 
ture in  all  of  its  different  aspects  is  carried  on,  and 
prosperity  uninterrupted  dwells  in  this  small  earthly 
paradise.  Coffee,  sugar,  tobacco,  cotton,  cereals,  fine 
fruits  and  vegetables,  grow  here  practically  without 
any  attention  ;  while  an  active  commerce  is  carried  on, 
through  the  port  of  Acajutla,  with  other  ports  of  the 
Republic,  to  which  it  sends  large  consignments  of 
cereals  and  sugar.  It  likewise  imports  woollen  goods 
and  mercury  from  Guatemala,  and  cattle  and  mules 
from  Honduras.  Altogether,  a  thriving  trade  and  a 
valuable  natural  production  are  carried  on  during  all 
the  year  in  this  prosperous  Department. 

Ahuachapan  Town  has  always  possessed,  and  must 
always  retain,  some  value  as  a  commercial  centre, 
since  it  is  the  starting-place  for  the  export  of  coffee  to 
the  coast,  the  route  having  formerly  been  over  very 
precipitous  and  wretched  trails,  which,  however,  have 
latterly  been  much  improved.  One  of  the  fords  over 
the  Rio  Paz,  known  as  Los  Organos,  on  the  trail  from 
the  aldea  of  Cofradias,  in  Guatemala,  leads  by  a 
very  beautiful  route  to  the  town  of  Ahuachapan.  It 
has  a  population  of  between  11,000  and  12,000  in- 
habitants, the  Department  which  bears  the  same  name 
having  a  complement  of  some  37,000  people.  There 
is  a  good  cart-road  leading  to  Sonsonate  via  Otaco 
and  Apaneca,  which  are  two  mountain  towns. 

Being  situated  at  an  agreeable  altitude  above  sea- 
level — 2,620  feet,  which  is  some  500  feet  higher  than 
Santa  Ana — the  town  is  more  open  to  the  winds,  so 
that  the  air  is  generally  fresh  and  cool,  especially  at 
nights.  Ahuachapan  overlooks  the  valleys  of  the 
Rivers  Paz  and  Chalchuapa,  while  beyond  them  are 
seen  the  many  peaks  of  the  Guatemalan  mountains, 


296     SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

as  well  as  the  outstanding  volcano  of  San  Salvador. 
There  are  but  few  foreigners  in  this  town,  but  the 
courtesy  and  friendliness  of  the  people  render  a  stay 
there  more  than  usually  pleasant.  The  people  as  a 
whole  seemed  to  me  to  be  very  well-to-do,  and 
evidences  of  refinement  and  solid  comfort  were  to  be 
met  with  upon  all  sides.  This  prosperity  emanated, 
I  was  informed,  from  the  many  rich  and  productive 
fincas  in  the  neighbourhood,  which  are  engaged  in 
growing  coffee.  The  majority  of  these  fincas  seem  to 
belong  to  quite  small  and  humble  proprietors.  I  was 
also  impressed  with  the  absence  of  the  usual  number 
of  estancos,  or  public  drinking  shops,  of  which  I 
counted  scarcely  more  than  six  in  the  whole  town. 

There  is  a  good  social  club  here,  which  is  "  teetotal," 
and  there  are  the  usual  number  of  churches,  one  of 
them  being  an  extremely  handsome  edifice.  The 
Government  buildings  and  the  residence  of  the 
Governor  are  sufficiently  imposing  ;  the  streets  are 
both  well  paved  and  well  drained.  The  majority  of 
the  houses  are  built  of  adobe,  but  some  are  of  brick, 
and  one  or  two  are  of  stone,  or  at  least  they  are  stone- 
faced.  Most  of  the  better-class  residences,  however, 
are  stuccoed  with  either  brown,  white,  or  coloured 
plaster  on  the  side  which  faces  the  street.  There 
seemed  to  be  an  abundant  supply  of  good  water 
available,  free  baths  being  provided  and  also  appar- 
ently well  patronized.  I  had  noticed  the  same  thing 
in  Cojutepeque  and  other  Salvadorean  towns,  proving 
that  the  inhabitants  pay  strict  regard  to  cleanli- 
ness. The  Ahuachapdn  public  baths  have  a  continuous 
supply  of  warm  water,  which  is  received  from  the 
neighbouring  hot  springs. 

An  efficient  police  force  keeps  the  town  in  perfect 


SANTA  ANA  297 

order ;  but  there  are  still  lacking  a  good  hotel,  a  livery 
stable,  and  a  theatre.  The  latter  is  not  essential,  but 
it  is  a  luxury  which  is  usually  found  in  Central  and 
South  American  towns  which  cannot  even  boast  of  a 
single  drainpipe.  The  same  thing  was  noticeable  in 
Johannesburg,  South  Africa,  some  twenty  years  after 
the  town  had  the  electric  light  and  the  telephone.  The 
town  of  Ahuachapdn  is  a  quiet,  sleepy,  and  eminently 
peaceful  place  of  residence,  where  one  might  dream 
away  one's  life  contentedly  enough  if  one  were  pre- 
pared to  do  without  driving,  without  amusements, 
and  without  either  dentists,  doctors,  or  daily  papers. 

There  was  once  some  talk  of  bringing  the  railway 
line  through  Ahuachapdn  from  Montufar  (Guatemala) 
to  Sonsonate  ;  but  the  construction,  although  perfectly 
practicable,  would  be  so  heavy  and  so  costly  that  I 
am  doubtful  whether  the  peaceful  solitude  of  this 
district — for  some  time  at  least — will  be  broken  by 
the  shrill  scream  of  the  locomotive  whistle. 


DEPARTMENT  OF  SANTA  ANA. 

Cities. — Santa  Ana,  Chalchuapa,  Metapan  (3). 

Towns. — Texistepeque,  Coatepeque  (2). 

The  boundaries  of  this  Department  bring  it  into 
immediate  contact  with  Honduras  and  Guatemala  on 
the  north,  while  on  the  east  are  the  Departments  of 
La  Libertad  and  Chalatenango.  Sonsonate  is  on  the 
south,  and  Guatemala  and  the  Department  of  Ahua- 
chapdn  are  on  the  west. 

Two  extensive  ranges  of  mountains  cover  this  terri- 
tory, one  on  the  north,  and  the  other  from  east  to 
west,  two  imposing  mountains,  Santa  Ana  and  Mala 
Cara,  both  of  which  are  active,  rearing  their  shapely 


298     SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

heads  in  this  Department.  In  addition  there  are 
three  extinct  volcanoes — Masatepeque,  San  Diego,  and 
La  Isla.  Where  there  are  no  mountains,  magnificent 
valleys — fertile  from  end  to  end — stretch  away  for 
many  leagues,  watered  by  two  rivers,  one  of  which  is 
the  Malino,  and  the  other  the  Lempa,  which  latter, 
with  its  many  affluents,  curves  through  this  favoured 
country.  As  a  Department,  Santa  Ana  came  into 
existence  in  February,  1855,  having  previously  formed 
first  a  part  of  the  ancient  province  of  Sonsonate,  and 
after  that  comprising  the  two  districts  of  Ahuachapan 
and  Atiquizaya. 

The  chief  city,  which  bears  the  same  name,  is  the 
largest — outside  San  Salvador — in  the  Republic,  and, 
indeed,  is  ranked  as  one  of  the  most  important  in 
Central  America.  The  location  is  a  pleasant  one, 
being  on  the  west  side  of  the  valley  of  the  Malino. 
The  elevation  is  about  2,100  feet  above  sea-level,  and 
softly  undulating  green  hills  almost  entirely  surround 
it.  The  city  is  well  laid  out  and  solidly  built,  with 
many  notable  structures,  while  the  streets  are  lighted 
by  electricity  and  are  well  paved.  Owing,  however, 
to  the  steepness  of  some  of  the  thoroughfares,  this 
city  being  also  constructed  upon  the  sloping  side  of 
the  valley,  torrents  of  water  come  tumbling  down  in 
rainy  weather,  converting  the  crossings  for  the  time 
being  into  miniature  cataracts.  On  the  other  hand, 
the  natural  drainage  is  excellent,  and  as  a  conse- 
quence Santa  Ana  ranks  as  one  of  the  cleanest  and 
most  healthful  towns  in  the  country.  This  is  all  the 
more  notable  because  the  Municipality  at  the  time 
that  I  visited  the  place  had  not  completed  the  drainage 
system,  which  I  understood  was  then  about  to  be 
introduced,  while  the  public  water-supply  was  not  yet 


SANTA  ANA  299 

perfect.  I  noticed  several  public  bathing-places  which 
were  completely  open  to  the  air ;  these  were  not,  how- 
ever, provided  with  hot  water. 

The  number  of  prosperous-looking  business  houses 
and  handsome  private  residences  in  Santa  Ana  at  once 
arrest  the  attention  of  a  visitor,  as  does  the  general 
air  of  prosperity  which  reigns  throughout  the  place. 
The  commercial  and  financial  houses  do  about  as 
much  business  in  this  town  in  a  day  as  they  carry 
through  in  all  the  other  parts  of  the  Republic — the 
capital  excepted — in  a  week.  The  market-house,  a 
building  of  considerable  magnitude,  is  usually  very 
well  attended,  and  almost  any  kind  of  fruit  and  vege- 
table can  be  purchased  there. 

Santa  Ana  contains,  perhaps,  a  greater  proportion  of 
resident  foreigners  than  any  other  town  or  city  in 
Salvador.  It  is  partly  due  to  this  that  so  much  com- 
merce is  carried  on.  The  town  is  but  fifty  miles 
distant  from  the  Capital,  and  it  is  easily  reached  by 
the  Salvador  Railway,  which  naturally  carries  con- 
siderable traffic  both  to  and  from  the  town.  From  Santa 
Ana  there  is  a  first-rate  cart-road  conducting  north  to 
Metapan,  and  another  leading  south  to  Sonsonate  and 
to  the  port  of  Acajutla. 

The  temperature,  as  a  rule,  in  this  city  renders  life 
very  pleasant.  During  the  rainy  months  of  August, 
September,  and  October  it  varies  between  67°  and 
69°  F.,  the  maximum  being  between  72°  and  78°  F. 


CHAPTER  XXII 

Department  of  La  Paz —  Characteristics — Zacatecoluca — Population — 
Former  proportions — Districts — Towns — Principal  estates — Santiago 
Nomialco — San  Juan  Nonualco  —  Climate — Water-supply — Santa 
Maria  Astuma — Mercedes  la  Ceiba — San  Pedro  Mazahuat — Some 
minor  estates — Small  property  holdings. 

DEPARTMENT  OF  LA  PAZ. 

City. — Zacatecoluca. 

Towns. — Santiago  Nonualco,  San  Pedro  Mazahuat, 
San  Pedro  Nonualco,  Olocuilta  (4). 

The  Department  of  La  Paz  belongs  to  the  group  of 
central  and  coast  (or  maritime)  Departments.  It  has 
a  decidedly  quadrangular  form,  and  is  bounded  on 
the  east  by  the  Department  of  San  Vicente  ;  on  the 
north  by  the  same  with  that  of  CuscatMn  and  of  San 
Salvador  ;  on  the  west  by  the  Department  of  San 
Salvador  and  by  that  of  La  Libertad  ;  and  on  the 
south  by  the  Pacific. 

It  lies  between  the  parallels  13°  40"  and  13°  IS" 
N.  latitude,  and  between  the  meridians  91°  4"  and 
91°  31"  W.  longitude,  relatively  to  the  meridian 
of  Paris.  The  most  northerly  point  is  a  small 
peninsula  of  the  Lake  of  Ilopango,  on  the  coast 
of  the  Tepezontes,  and  the  most  southerly  is  on  the 
Pacific  coast,  at  the  watering-place  called  Los  Blancos 
y  los  Negros.  The  most  easterly  point  is  at  the 
River  of  San  Jer6nimo,  to  the  north  of  the  highroad 

300 


LA  PAZ  SOI 

which  runs  from  Zacatecoluca  to  Usulutan,  and  the 
most  westerly  is  at  the  mouth  of  the  River  Lindero. 
The  area  of  this  Department  is  2,354  square  kilo- 
metres, or,  say,  about  Tf^  of  the  area  of  Salvador. 

The  surface  is  fairly  level  towards  the  coast,  and 
hilly  towards  the  interior,  but  it  is  always  accessible 
for  transit.  The  low-lying  land  is  found  to  be  excel- 
lent for  the  cultivation  of  the  sugar-cane,  tobacco, 
cotton,  indigo,  and  forage  ;  while  the  high  land  is 
eminently  suited  for  the  cultivation  of  coffee,  wheat, 
rice,  etc.  The  forests  of  the  Department  enjoy  a  high 
reputation  for  the  excellence  of  the  timber  which  they 
produce. 

The  population  of  the  Department  of  La  Paz  has 
increased  with  astonishing  rapidity.  In  1858  it 
possessed  scarcely  24,000  inhabitants,  while  to-day 
it  is  almost  three  times  as  large,  which  is  equal  to 
an  increase  of  3  per  cent,  annually.  The  density  of 
the  population  is  thirty-one  inhabitants  per  square 
kilometre,  and  the  number  of  individuals  of  native 
race  is  nearly  equal  to  that  of  the  Spanish-speaking 
inhabitants. 

Previous  to  the  Independence,  the  greater  part  of 
the  present  Department  of  La  Paz  belonged  to  the 
Department  of  San  Vicente.  Towards  1835  the 
Governor  of  this  State  ceded  the  district  of  Zacate- 
coluca to  the  Central  Government,  so  that  it  might 
form  part  of  the  special  territory  of  that  authority,  a 
cession  which  not  unnaturally  displeased  the  inhabi- 
tants of  the  district.  On  the  disunion,  the  Federation 
was  established,  and  joined-up  with  that  of  Olocuilta 
the  new  Department  of  La  Paz.  In  the  year  1843,  in 
direct  consequence  of  the  revolt  of  the  Indians  of 
Santiago  Nonualco,  and  under  pretext  of  a  defect  in 


302     SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

the  government,  the  new  Department  was  suppressed 
and  reincorporated  in  that  of  San  Vicente.  In  1845 
it  again  separated  ;  but  in  the  following  year,  1846, 
it  was  joined  once  more  to  that  of  San  Vicente, 
remaining  thus  until,  by  the  Legislative  Decree  of 
February  21,  1852,  it  was  definitely  separated. 

At  present  the  Department  of  La  Paz  is  divided 
into  three  districts,  which  comprehend  one  city,  four 
large  towns,  and  about  fifteen  smaller  ones,  as  shown 
by  the  following  table  : 

District  of  Zacatecoluca :  Santiago  Nonualco,  San  Pedro  Nonualco, 
San  Juan  Nonualco,  Santa  Maria  Ostuma,  San  Eafael,  La  Ceiba, 
Jerusalen. 

District  of  San  Pedro  Mazahuat :  San  Pedro  Mazahuat,  El  Rosario, 
San  Miguel  Tepezontes,  San  Juan  Tepezontes,  Paraiso  de  Osorio,  San 
Emigdio. 

District  of  Olocuilta :  Talpa,  Cuyultitan,  San  Luis,  Tapalhuaca,  San 
Francisco  Chinameca. 

In  the  lowlands  or  near  the  coast  there  are  a  number 
of  old  estates  of  unquestionable  merit,  and  which  in 
former  times  were  famous  for  the  indigo  which  they 
produced.  To-day  the  principal  agricultural  industry 
of  Zacatecoluca  is  coffee-growing,  and  the  inhabitants 
possess  upon  the  Volcan  some  magnificent  plantations, 
the  principal  being  the  following,  with  the  number  of 
hundredweights  of  produce  that  they  yield  annually : 

Those  of  Senor  J.  Eengifo  Nunez,  3,500  cwts. ;  Senor  Jose  Molina, 
2,000;  Senora  Dona  Amalia  Molina,  2,000;  Senora  Dona  Teresa  O.  de 
Alfaro,  1,000;  Dr.  Don  Fernando  G6mez,  1,500  ;  Don  Mariano  A.  Molina, 
1,000;  Don  Fernando  Gomez,  1,500;  Dr.  Pena  Fernandez,  1,500;  Don 
Pedro  Rodriguez,  800 ;  Dona  Josefa  Buiza,  800 ;  Don  Atanasio  Pineda, 
500;  the  Senorita  Dolores  Rodriguez,  500;  Dona  Teresa  de  Rodriguez, 
500;  Don  Atanasio  Pineda,  500;  Don  Atanasio  Pineda  (ft),  500;  the 
Lopez  family,  500  ;  Dr.  Don  Pio  Romero  Bosque,  500 ;  Dona  Josefa 
Molina,  600 ;  Dona  Mercedes  Rubio,  400 ;  Don  Francisco  Orantes,  300 ; 
Don  Lisandro  Torres,  300  ;  the  issue  of  Don  Samuel  Jimenez,  300  ;  Dona 
Mercedes  Rodriguez,  300;  Don  Octavio  Miranda,  200;  Don  Catarino 
Ortiz,  200 ;  Dona  Elodia  Jandres,  200  ;  Don  Justo  Quintanilla,  200 ; 
General  Don  Jose  Maria  Estupinian,  300. 


LA  PAZ  803 

The  town  of  Santiago  Nonualco,  which  has  the  title 
of  "  Villa,"  a  name  usually  given  to  a  large  and  im- 
portant town,  is  also  an  ancient  one.  It  is  situated 
on  high  land,  on  the  brow  of  a  hill,  10  kilometres  to 
the  west  of  Zacatecoluca — the  said  highland  measuring 
from  north  to  south  some  36  kilometres,  and  from 
east  to  west  about  7.  It  is  situated  on  a  large  tract 
of  level  ground,  upon  which,  towards  the  north,  are 
two  hills — La  Chorrera  and  El  Tacuazin ;  in  the 
former  is  situated  the  cave  in  which  the  celebrated 
Indian,  Aquino,  took  refuge. 

Numbers  of  excellent  stock  and  grain  farms  exist 
here,  upon  which  are  cultivated  large  quantities  of 
cereals,  and  which  formerly  produced  a  remarkable 
quantity  of  very  good  indigo.  Such  are  El  Pedregal, 
La  Vanderia,  Teguistocoyo,  Novillos,  Ojo,  Troncones, 
and  Santa  Teresa.  A  very  ancient  town  also  is  San 
Juan  Nonualco,  situated  to  the  west,  4  kilometres 
from  Zacatecoluca,  and  about  100  metres  above  the 
level  of  the  sea.  The  highroad  leading  from  Zacate- 
coluca to  the  Capital  of  the  Republic  passes  by  here, 
and  at  San  Juan  it  throws  off  a  branch  which  runs 
directly  to  the  port  of  La  Libertad. 

Among  its  best-known  coffee  plantations  are — Las 
Nubes,  San  Pedro,  El  Consuelo,  and  Las  Granadillas. 
There  is  also  carried  on  a  great  deal  of  timber-felling, 
and  there  are  some  sawmills  erected  among  the  hills 
of  Pilon  and  Caballito.  In  this  district  there  are  no 
natural  springs  of  water,  which  element  has  been 
supplied  by  sinking  wells  near  the  pool  of  La 
Laguneta,  formed  at  the  time  of  the  rains. 

San  Rafael  is  a  town  which  was  founded  in  the  year 
1882  on  lands  which  were  the  property  of  the  Obra- 
juelos,  the  portion  belonging  to  the  town  being 


304     SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

marked  off  by  boundaries  and  landmarks.  The  only 
hill  worthy  of  mention  in  the  district  of  San  Rafael 
is  that  of  the  Carao. 

The  little  town  of  San  Pedro  Nonualco  is  situated 
in  the  hollow  of  a  hill  and  upon  the  slopes  of  a  small 
volcano,  20  kilometres  to  the  north  of  Zacatecoluca. 
It  enjoys  a  mild  and  salubrious  climate,  especially  in 
the  dry  season ;  whilst  during  the  rainy  season  there 
is  sufficient  humidity  for  agricultural  purposes.  The 
principal  sources  are — El  Pringadero,  El  Pataiste, 
El  Hiscanal,  El  Chinte,  La  Gotera  (which  last  is  that 
from  which  is  drawn  the  water  used  by  the  town),  La 
Montafiita,  Los  Naranjos,  and  a  number  of  other  small 
streams  which  supply  the  country  with  an  abundance 
of  water. 

Santa  Maria  Ostuma  is  a  town  situated  on  the  slope 
of  a  hill  which  springs  from  the  loins  of  the  volcano 
of  San  Vicente  on  the  north-west,  and  is  24  kilo- 
metres from  Zacatecoluca.  Its  situation  is  very 
picturesque,  the  town  being  surrounded  by  beautiful 
perspectives,  while  its  climate  is  fresh  and  healthy.  It 
is  divided  into  four  districts — Delicias,  Candelaria, 
Mercedes  and  Calvario.  The  principal  annual  festival 
is  that  of  the  patron  saint,  on  February  2,  the  day  of 
the  Presentation,  or  Candlemas.  The  place  has  to-day 
about  3,400  inhabitants,  and  its  prominent  source  of 
revenue  is  derived  from  agriculture,  principally  coffee 
and  the  pineapple,  the  pineapples  produced  in  Ostuma 
being  considered  the  best  in  the  Republic.  These  are 
of  the  most  choice  types — the  Castilian,  water  and 
sugar  pineapples. 

The  town,  or  rather  village,  of  Mercedes  La  Ceiba  is 
bounded  on  the  west  by  that  of  Jerusal^n,  the  middle 
course  of  the  River  Chilate,  and  on  the  remaining 


LA  PAZ  305 

sides  by  the  district  of  Santa  Maria  Ostuma.  It  has 
not  more  than  650  inhabitants. 

Jerusalen  is  another  small  place  of  recent  founda- 
tion, situated  about  25  kilometres  from  the  chief 
town.  Its  lands  are  fertile,  and  largely  intersected  by 
streams  of  some  importance.  San  Pedro  Mazahuat  is 
one  of  the  large  towns  of  the  Department,  and  is  the 
capital  of  the  district.  In  the  course  of  a  few  years  it 
has  attained  a  state  of  progress  quite  remarkable,  due 
alike  to  the  industrious  character  of  its  inhabitants  and 
the  fertility  of  its  lands.  It  is  situated  upon  rather 
broken  ground,  having  on  the  east  the  River  Tilapa, 
on  the  west  the  Sepaquiapa,  and  on  the  south  the 
Jiboa,  all  of  which  contribute  an  abundant  supply  of 
fish.  There  are  also  several  springs  of  fresh  water, 
such  as  Apacinto,  La  Pina,  and  Amatitan.  Two  kilo- 
metres to  the  north  of  the  town  is  the  spring  of  Plata, 
where  a  dam  has  been  constructed  and  whence  water 
is  conveyed  to  the  town. 

There  are  several  notable  estates,  such  as  those  of 
San  Antonio,  El  Pimental,  San  Jose  and  Mira-Flores, 
upon  which  are  cultivated  various  cereals,  and  a  serious 
attempt  at  cattle-breeding  is  carried  on.  This  last- 
named  estate,  which  was  widely  known  under  the 
name  of  Rancho  de  Teja,  was  formerly,  with  that  of 
Chanrayo,  one  of  the  most  flourishing,  and  engaged 
largely  in  the  cultivation  of  indigo.  It  is  the  place 
which  was  at  one  time  known  as  Hacienda  Nueva  (the 
New  Estate),  and  for  the  last  fifty  years  it  has  been  in 
the  possession  of  the  family  of  Aycinena,  of  Guatemala, 
as  is  also  that  of  San  Josecito.  The  lands  of  both 
these  properties  have  to-day  been  converted  into  a 
number  of  small  plantations. 


CHAPTER 

Department  of  San  Miguel — Portless  coast — Indigo  plantations — City  of 
San  Miguel — Cathedral — Water-supply — Archaeological  interests — 
Projected  railway  connections.  Department  of  Morazan — City  of 
Gotera — Mountains  and  fertile  plains — Agricultural  produce.  Depart- 
ment of  Usulutan — Physical  characteristics — Volcanic  curiosities — 
Surrounding  villages — Populations — El  Triunfo — Santiago  de  Maria. 
Department  of  La  Uni6n — Boundaries — Scenery — Guascoran  Eiver 
— Industries — Commerce. 


DEPARTMENT  OF  SAN  MIGUEL. 

Cities. — San  Miguel  and  Chinameca  (2). 

Towns. — Uluazapa,  Moncagua,  Chapeltique,  Cac- 
aguatique,  Sesori  (5). 

One  of  the  most  diversified  of  the  Departments  of 
the  Republic  is  San  Miguel,  since  it  offers  almost  every 
kind  of  scenery  to  be  found  in  Central  America  :  wild 
and  rugged  coastline,  steep  and  craggy  mountains, 
beautiful  verdant  valleys  and  at  least  one  active 
volcano — -active,  that  is  to  say,  in  emitting  much 
smoke  and  more  noise,  but  otherwise,  for  the  time 
being,  unobjectionable.  The  Department  is  bounded 
on  the  north  by  the  Republic  of  Honduras  and  the 
Department  of  Morazdn,  on  the  east  by  the  latter  and 
the  Department  of  La  Uni6n,  on  the  south  by  the 
Pacific  Ocean,  and  on  the  west  by  the  Departments  of 
Usulutdn  and  Cabanas. 

There  is  no  port  in  this  section  of  the  Republic,  and 
the  whole  coastline  is  considered  dangerous,  and  cer- 

306 


THE  "STATELY"  OFFICES  OF  His  BRITANNIC  MAJESTY'S  VICE-CONSUL  AT 
LA  UNION,  ONE  OF  THE  PRINCIPAL  PORTS  IN  SALVADOR. 


BARRACKS  AT  SANTA  TECI.A  (NEW  SAN  SALVADOR) 


SAN  MIGUEL  307 

tainly  looks  inhospitable,  being  formed  of  numerous 
spurs  running  down  into  the  sea  from  the  mountains 
which  guard  it  for  practically  all  of  its  length.  There 
are  two  volcanoes  located  here,  one  of  which,  China- 
meca,  is,  and  for  years  past  has  been,  quiescent ;  the 
other  is  the  ever-grumbling  San  Miguel. 

In  the  peaceful  valleys  below  are  grown  indigo, 
coffee,  and  sugar  ;  timber  is  cut  for  building  purposes  ; 
grains  and  any  amount  of  fruits  and  vegetables  are 
cultivated.  There  are  likewise  several  important 
manufactures,  such  as  saddlery  and  harness,  boots  and 
shoes,  articles  of  tortoiseshells,  pickles,  lime-juice, 
cheese,  and  rum.  The  annual  fair  is  held  on 
November  21,  in  the  city  of  San  Miguel,  and  on  this 
occasion  the  amount  of  business  transacted  runs  into 
many  thousands  of  dollars.  The  visitors  include  those 
from  some  of  the  neighbouring  Republics,  besides  the 
people  from  all  parts  of  Salvador. 

An  old  and  a  remarkably  interesting  city  is  that  of 
San  Miguel,  which  was  founded  in  1530.  Perhaps  its 
early  days  were  more  prosperous  than  those  which  are 
at  present  enjoyed  ;  for  history  shows  that  here,  in 
times  long  passed  away,  great  trade  and  industry 
were  caried  on,  and  much  activity  of  commercial  life 
prevailed.  To-day  a  kind  of  peaceful  stagnation 
would  appear  to  reign  for  the  greater  part  of  the  year, 
but  still  the  people  seem  to  be  quite  contented  and 
fairly  well-to-do. 

The  great  wealth  of  the  place  formerly  reposed  in 
the  indigo  trade  which  was  carried  on,  and  which  the 
invention  of  aniline  dyes  greatly  helped  to  kill.  One 
can  easily  trace  where  and  how  the  superabundant 
wealth  of  the  community  was  spent.  It  is  to  be  seen 
in  the  magnificently  wide  thoroughfares,  the  well- 


308     SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

paved  streets,  and  the  many  yet  handsome  plazas  and 
public  buildings.  It  is  possible  still  to  pause  and 
admire  the  proportions  and  the  decorations  of  the 
Municipal  Palace,  of  the  Court  House,  the  Hospital 
and  the  Market ;  while  many  are  the  imposing  churches 
to  be  seen,  those  of  San  Francisco,  Calvario  and  Santo 
Domingo  among  them. 

For  some  years  a  massive  brick-built  Cathedral  has 
been  in  course  of  erection  ;  but  it  is  still  incomplete. 
The  water-supply,  which  is  abundant,  is  taken  from 
the  San  Miguel  River.  I  have  been  told  that  this 
water  was  not  safe  to  drink ;  but  I  venture  to  assert 
that  the  statement  is  incorrect,  provided  the  liquid  be 
taken  from  that  portion  of  the  river  which  is  not 
immediately  ad  joining  the  town  and  certain  residences. 

That  the  town  otherwise  is  up-to-date  may  be  gauged 
from  the  fact  that  it  possesses  both  an  ice-plant  and  an 
electric  light  installation.  I  am  afraid,  however,  that 
neither  are  particularly  well  patronized  by  the 
majority  of  the  people,  who  are  very  simple  and  un- 
pretentious in  their  method  of  living,  as  in  their  dress. 

Around  the  city  of  San  Miguel  are  located  well- 
maintained  fincas,  nearly  all  of  which  belong  to  native 
proprietors.  Indigo  and  cacao  are  the  most  common 
products  raised,  and  both  thrive  here  amazingly  well. 

Antiquaries  and  archaeologists  will  find  an  extremely 
interesting  field  for  their  investigations  around  San 
Miguel,  where  exist  numerous  remains  of  a  primitive 
and  an  industrious  people.  Already  many  examples  of 
their  domestic  utensils  have  been  found  and  methods 
of  living  have  been  traced ;  and  at  a  private  house 
belonging  to  an  enthusiastic  but  discriminating 
collector  of  such  articles  may  be  seen  flint  knives, 
grinding-mills  of  hard  stone  more  durable  even  than 


SAN  MIGUEL  309 

granite,  and  alias  of  clay,  presenting  many  interesting 
features  of  workmanship,  far  superior,  indeed,  to  any- 
thing of  the  kind  which  is  met  with  to-day.  It  is 
supposed  that  the  ancient  city  of  Chaparrastique  was 
located  in  this  neighbourhood,  not  more  than  a  mile  or 
so  from  the  present  site  of  San  Miguel. 

The  city  of  San  Miguel  lies  some  three-quarters  of 
a  mile  from  the  volcano  and  the  river  of  the  same 
name,  the  latter  also  being  called  sometimes  the  Rio 
Grande.  It  stands  but  some  360  feet  above  the  level 
of  the  sea,  and  the  climate  is  undoubtedly  hot — 
sometimes  unpleasantly  so.  San  Miguel  is  about  107 
miles  east  of  the  Capital,  and  is  approached  by  a 
good  cart-road.  It  claims  some  23,000  inhabitants, 
most  of  whom  are  engaged  in  agriculture  of  some  kind, 
while  they  form  an  orderly  community  very  little  given 
to  troubling  the  authorities,  yet  somewhat  opposed  to 
innovations  or  reforms  of  any  kind.  The  native 
women  of  San  Miguel  are  considered  to  be  about  the 
best-looking  in  the  Republic. 

The  Government  have,  as  related  elsewhere,  long 
had  the  desire  to  unite  San  Miguel,  which  claims  with 
Santa  Ana  to  be  the  "  second  "  most  important  city  in 
the  Republic  (it  certainly  is  justified  from  a  population 
point  of  view)  with  La  Union,  its  finest  seaport,  and  to 
extend  the  line  to  the  cities  of  San  Vicente  and  San 
Salvador,  thus  securing  an  all-rail  route  from  Acajutla, 
the  most  important  western  port,  to  La  Union  in  the 
extreme  east,  on  the  Gulf  of  Fonseca.* 

*  These  figures  will,  no  doubt,  be  recognized  by  some  of  my  more 
critical  readers  as  a  "  repetition,"  having  already  been  presented  by  me 
in  previous  chapters.  But  since  I  have,  for  the  purpose  of  more  ready 
reference,  divided  this  volume  into  Departments,  it  has  been  deemed 
desirable  to  repeat  the  statistics  of  railway  construction  and  road-building 
under  each  separate  Department  to  which  the  figures  bear  any  relation. — 
AUTHOR. 


S10     SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

It  was  sufficiently  proved  by  Mr.  Charles  T.  Spencer 
(now  the  Manager  of  the  Salvador  Railway  Company) 
that  such  a  line  of  railway  was  quite  feasible  from  an 
engineering  point  of  view,  and  that  it  could  be  con- 
structed at  a  reasonable  outlay.  The  kilometric 
distance  from  San  Miguel  to  San  Vicente  would  be 
(main-line)  102'2  (=63*5  miles). 

DEPARTMENT  OF  MORAZAN. 

City. — Gotera. 

Towns. — Sociedad,  San -Carlos,  Jocoro,  Osicala,  El 
Rosario  (5). 

This  is  one  of  the  most  recently  created  of  the 
various  Departments,  having  come  into  official  exist- 
ence in  1875.  Formerly  much  of  its  territory  was 
comprised  in  San  Miguel.  Even  its  name  has  been 
altered,  since  until  1887  it  was  known  as  "  Gotera,'* 
which  is  now  the  title  of  its  one  city.  In  this  year 
the  name  was  altered  to  Morazan  by  decree  of  Con- 
gress, in  memory  of  the  last  President  of  the  Central 
American  Federation,  and  who  lost  his  life  in  his 
well-meant  but  fruitless  efforts  to  bring  about  its 
resuscitation. 

The  Department  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  the 
Republic  of  Honduras,  on  the  east  by  the  Department 
of  La  Union,  on  the  south  by  La  Union  and  San 
Miguel,  and  on  the  west  by  the  latter  also.  Lofty 
mountains  cover  a  great  deal  of  the  surface,  more 
especially  towards  the  north,  the  various  chains  cross- 
ing the  Department  from  east  to  west.  Towards  the 
Honduranean  border — that  is  to  say,  in  the  direction 
of  the  south — a  number  of  fertile  plains  are  to  be  met 
with,  and  these  are  mostly  well  watered  by  the  Rivers 
Tocola  and  Rio  Grande.  All  kinds  of  agricultural 


MORAZAN  311 

products  are  cultivated  here,  such  as  indigo,  rice, 
coffee,  sugar,  corn,  and  a  variety  of  fruits.  It  is  also 
an  industrial  centre,  there  being  established  cordage, 
mat,  hat,  lime,  and  earthenware  factories,  the  greater 
part  of  which,  at  least,  seem  to  carry  on  a  thriving 
trade.  Labour  is  abundant,  if  not  particularly  well 
skilled ;  and  the  greater  portion  of  the  inhabitants  are 
industriously  occupied  all  the  year  round  in  following 
either  agriculture  or  some  kind  of  manufacturing. 

Although  a  decidedly  small  place,  containing  some- 
thing less  than  2,000  people,  Gotera  is  picturesque, 
and  as  clean  as  it  is  romantic  in  appearance.  It  is 
connected  by  a  good  cart-road  with  the  city  of  San 
Miguel.  There  is  likewise  a  volcano  of  moderate 
proportions,  raising  its  crest  3,089  feet  in  height,  and 
being  located  13°  42'  54"  latitude,  and  88°  0'  SOT 
longitude.  Its  history  is  not  especially  remarkable. 

DEPARTMENT  OF  LA  UNi6N. 

Cities. — La  Union,  San  Alejo,  Santa  Rosa  (3). 

It  was  to  form  this  Department  that  San  Miguel 
had  once  again  to  give  up  a  goodly  portion  of  its 
original  territory.  It  is  now  one  of  the  most  im- 
portant of  the  Republic's  various  political  Divisions, 
by  reason  of  containing  the  port  of  La  Uni6n,  of 
which  I  give  a  fuller  description  elsewhere  under  the 
title  of  "Ports  and  Harbours"  (see  Chapter  XIV.). 
Its  boundaries  are  as  follows  :  North,  by  the  Republic 
of  Honduras  ;  east,  by  that  Republic  also  and  the  Bay 
of  Fonseca ;  south,  by  the  Pacific  Ocean ;  and  west, 
by  the  Departments  of  San  Miguel  and  Morazdn.  A 
great  diversity  of  scenery  may  be  met  with,  the 
mountains  alternating  with  valleys,  volcanoes  with 
large  open  plains,  and  the  ocean  lending  a  blue 


312     SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

setting  to  the  whole  picture.  For  true  tropical 
scenery  the  Bay  of  Fonseca  would  be  hard  to  beat, 
and  its  most  beautiful  portion  skirts  the  shore  of  this 
Department.  Unfortunately,  however,  there  is  usually 
a  great  deal  of  unhealthy  miasma  arising  from  the  low, 
marshy  shore,  and  from  the  mouth  of  the  Guascoran 
River  to  the  Honduranean  boundary  the  whole  district 
may  be  said  to  be  unhealthy.  Here  and  again  one 
comes  across  dry  and  rugged  spots,  but  for  the  most 
part  the  country  lies  very  low,  and  it  is  extremely  hot 
at  almost  all  times  of  the  year. 

Located  upon  the  picturesque  peninsula  which 
separates  the  Bay  of  Fonseca  from  the  Pacific  Ocean 
is  the  enormous  volcano  of  Conchagua,  towering  up 
to  a  height  of  over  4,000  feet  above  sea-level,  and 
measuring  some  twenty  miles  in  circumference  around 
its  base.  There  are  two  magnificent  peaks,  one 
measuring  3,800  feet,  and  the  other  4,101  feet.  The 
situation  is  13°  16'  28"  latitude,  and  87°  51'  46"  longi- 
tude. This  mountain  was  last  in  eruption  in  the 
year  1868,  but  to  all  appearances  it  is  now  perfectly 
quiescent. 

Both  industrially  and  commercially  La  Union  is 
of  importance,  much  of  the  fine  timber  employed  in 
various  parts  of  the  Republic  for  both  building  opera- 
tions and  cabinet-making  coming  from  its  forests, 
which  nevertheless  as  yet  have  hardly  been  touched. 
Great  potential  wealth  is  contained  here,  and,  in  view 
of  the  proximity  of  the  port,  its  forests  should  one  day 
be  intelligently  and  profitably  exploited. 

As  to  manufactures,  the  Department  possesses  lime, 
hat  (palm-leaf  variety),  mat,  soap,  candle,  steel,  and 
other  establishments  ;  while  considerable  trade  goes 
on  in  fish,  and  especially  in  oyster-curing.  La  Uni6n 


USULUTAN  313 

oysters  are  very  delicious,  and  are  rrmcli  relished  as 
a  rule  by  foreigners,  who  declare  them  to  be  equal 
to  the  best  Whitstable  in  flavour.  The  variety  of  fish 
caught  off  these  coasts  is  not  particularly  large,  but 
the  quality  is  very  fine.  The  cost  of  living  in  this 
Department,  even  at  the  port  of  La  Union,  is  cheap, 
and  on  the  whole  one  may  dwell  there  very  comfort- 
ably, if  climatic  conditions  be  accepted  philosophically. 

DEPARTMENT  OF  USULUTAN. 

Cities. — Usulutan,  Jucuapa,  Alegria  (3). 

Towns. — Santa  Elena,  Jiquilisco  (2). 

This  Department  belongs  to  the  eastern  section  of 
the  Republic,  and  formerly  its  territory  was  embraced 
in  the  Department — or,  as  it  was  then  called,  the 
Province — of  San  Miguel  (6  Provincia)  de  Chaparras- 
tique,  now  known  simply  as  "  San  Miguel."  It  became 
a  separate  Department  in  1865.  It  is  bounded  on  the 
north  and  east  by  the  Department  of  San  Miguel,  on 
the  south  by  the  Pacific  Ocean,  and  on  the  west  by  the 
Department  of  San  Vicente.  Its  area  is  3,344  square 
kilometres  which  represents  a  y^f  ^  part  of  the  super- 
ficial area  of  the  Republic. 

The  central  portion  of  the  Department  is  very 
mountainous,  the  country  here  being  crossed  by  a  lofty 
range,  north  of  which  it  is  relatively  level,  but  decidedly 
broken-up.  In  the  south  are  found  lowlands  and  a 
swampy  coast,  which  during  the  rainy  season  becomes 
somewhat  unhealthy.  Within  the  borders  of  this 
Department  are  found  three  separate  volcanoes — 
Usulutan,  Jucuapa  and  Taburete.  From  a  geological 
point  of  view  the  two  last  named  are  the  most  interest- 
ing, having  small  lakes  of  sulphurous  water  in  their 
ancient  craters.  Roundabout,  and  especially  in  a  deep 


314     SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

and  dry  ravine  which  extends  from  the  south-east  of 
the  village  of  Tecapa  towards  the  River  Lempa,  are  a 
number  of  active  geysers  which  emit  dense  volumes  of 
sulphurous  vapours  and  columns  of  smoke,  reminding 
one  forcibly  of  some  of  the  beautiful  geysers  in  New 
Zealand,  in  the  Roturua  district. 

The  largest  of  the  geysers  at  Tecapa  is  called  "  El 
Tronador  "  (The  Thunderer),  and  this  has  formed  a 
small  crater  of  its  own,  from  out  of  which  is  thrown  a 
high  and  thick  column  of  steam  saturated  with  sul- 
phuretted hydrogen  and  other  gases,  while  the  noise 
which  accompanies  the  emission  of  this  steam  is 
deafening,  and  can  be  heard  for  many  miles  away. 

The  Department  is  divided  up  into  three  districts — 
namely,  Usulutan,  which  contains  seven  villages  or 
small  towns  ;  Jucuapa,  containing  four  ;  and  Santiago 
de  Maria,  containing  seven.  The  first-named  district 
has  a  population  of  some  12,000  inhabitants,  more  than 
half  of  whom  reside  in  the  city  of  Usulutdn,  a  pleasant 
place  enough,  situated  upon  the  right  bank  of  a  stream 
called  Juano,  but  only  at  the  moderate  elevation  of 
420  feet  above  sea-level.  It  is  also  some  ninety-five 
miles  distant  from  the  Capital.  The  number  of  build- 
ings of  an  ornate  character  is  considerable,  for 
Usulutan  was  formerly  a  place  of  some  pretensions, 
being  the  residential  quarters  of  the  authorities  of  the 
ancient  Division  of  San  Miguel  6  Provincia  de  Chapar- 
rastique.  It  was  classed  as  a  "  town  "  in  1827,  and 
was  given  the  rank  of  a  "  city  "  in  1860.  Among  the 
more  notable  buildings  are  a  handsome  town-hall,  a 
school-house,  and  a  minor  University,  where  the  higher 
education  is  imparted  to  a  large  number  of  pupils  and 
students.  A  prison  of  some  dimensions,  and  a  hand- 
some but  small  church,  should  also  be  mentioned. 


USULUTAN  315 

According  to  some  old  Spanish  MSS.,  which  I  was 
shown,  this  town  was  known  to  the  Indians  of  1574  as 
"  Uceluclan,"  and  a  large  number  of  people  at  one 
time  apparently  resided  there.  Another  very  old 
place  is  Santa  Elena,  which  dates  from  1661  ;  to-day 
it  has  about  3,275  inhabitants,  the  surrounding  dis- 
trict and  many  smaller  villages  bringing  up  the  total 
of  inhabitants  for  the  district  to  nearly  6,000. 

There  are  over  a  dozen  notable  fincas  round  about, 
where  maize,  tobacco,  rice  and  black  beans  are 
cultivated.  Jiquilisco  boasts  of  between  4,500  and 
4,600  inhabitants,  and  even  more  important  fincas,  so 
far  as  size  and  amount  of  produce  are  concerned. 
Santa  Maria  de  Los  Remedies  is  also  an  old  town, 
possessing  some  1,750  inhabitants.  Two  important 
fincas  are  located  in  the  neighbourhood,  and  engage 
the  services  of  many  of  the  labourers  available. 
Ereguaiquin,  which  is  some  7  kilometres  distant, 
has  2,100  inhabitants  ;  Ozatlan,  another  small  town  of 
very  recent  origin,  being  founded  as  late  as  1890, 
having  2,000  inhabitants. 

The  district  of  Jucuapa,  with  its  four  towns  and 
villages,  is  somewhat  deficient  in  water,  having  only 
the  San  Francisco  River  to  depend  upon.  Nevertheless 
the  country  is  very  fertile,  especially  in  the  immediate 
district  around  the  volcano  of  Jucuapa,  which  towers 
up  into  the  air  some  5,000  feet  above  the  level  of  the 
sea.  The  chief  town  has  two  schools  of  importance,  a 
private  college  for  the  children  of  wealthier  parents,  a 
casino,  a  club,  and  a  well-maintained  hospital. 

Estanzuelas,  which  was  established  as  a  village  in 
1815,  has  over  10,000  inhabitants,  most  of  whom  are 
engaged  in  the  pursuit  of  agriculture.  San  Buena- 
ventura, another  village,  stands  much  higher,  and  is 


316     SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

possessed  of  a  more  pleasant  climate  and  outlook  over 
mountains  and  valleys.  It  has  but  1,600  inhabitants, 
and  among  several  distinguished  Salvadoreans  who 
have  been  born  in  this  district  is  Dr.  Maximo  Araujo, 
who  has  rendered  great  political  services  to  his 
country. 

The  small  town  known  as  El  Triunfo  (also  described 
as  "  San  Juan  del  Triunfo  ")  is  an  old-established  place, 
and  was  formerly  known  as  "La  Labor."  This  is  in 
a  well-watered  district,  and  many  prosperous  fincas  are 
to  be  found  scattered  around.  A  fuller  account  of  the 
port  will  be  found  under  Chapter  XVI.,  "  Ports  and 
Harbours." 

The  Santiago  de  Maria  district  is  moderately  well 
inhabited,  but  the  town  of  the  same  name  is  small,  and 
is  little  over  forty  years  old.  The  neighbourhood, 
which  has  always  been  known  as  fertile,  and  which  is 
abundantly  watered  by  several  rivers  and  streams, 
produces  large  quantities  of  maize,  beans,  sugar, 
tobacco  and  vegetables. 

Other  small  towns  in  this  Department  are  San 
Agustin,  Tecapan,  Alegria,  Berlin  and  California.  The 
total  population  of  the  Department  was  put  in  1909  at 
89,175,  the  district  of  Usulutan  having  the  largest 
number,  estimated  at  32,275  ;  Jucuapa  came  next,  with 
25,700 ;  and  Santiago  de  Maria  third,  with  24,600.  The 
remaining  8  per  cent,  of  the  population  were  dispersed 
throughout  the  Department. 


CONCLUSION 

"  In  every  work  regard  the  writer's  End, 
Since  none  can  compass  more  than  they  intend; 
And  if  the  means  be  just,  the  conduct  true, 
Applause,  in  spite  of  trivial  faults,  is  due.1' 

I  MAKE  no  claim  in  this  volume  to  having  written 
anything  startlingly  new,  nor  yet  to  have  made  any 
particularly  valuable  contribution  to  the  history  of 
the  world;  but  what  I  have  endeavoured  to  effect, 
and  what  I  trust  I  have  accomplished  at  least  in  part, 
is  to  put  before  my  readers  what  I  know  to  be  facts 
concerning  a  very  interesting  country  which  has 
hitherto  received  but  scant  attention  at  the  hands 
of  financial  writers.  Bulwer  Lytton  has  said  that  no 
author  ever  drew  a  character,  consistent  to  human 
nature,  but  what  he  was  forced  to  ascribe  to  it  many 
inconsistencies.  So  it  is  with  a  book  which  purports 
to  be  a  true  description  of  a  country ;  for  in  portraying 
its  attractions  one  must  of  a  necessity  expose  its  draw- 
backs and  deficiencies. 

It  must  be  remembered  that  the  Republic  of  Sal- 
vador has  yet  to  celebrate  its  centenary,  being  one 
of  the  youngest  of  the  Latin- American  States  ;  but 
considering  the  different  troubles  and  tribulations 
which  this  country — in  common  with  all  of  the  Latin- 
American  Republics  without  exception  —  has  gone 
through,  the  present  condition  of  her  civilization, 
of  her  arts  and  her  commerce,  is  eminently  encoura- 

317 


S18     SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

ging.  The  great  advance  made  by  this  State  has  been 
achieved  in  spite  of  the  many  obstacles  which  it  has 
encountered.  If  the  permanency  of  a  Republic  mainly 
depends  upon  the  general  intelligence  and  morality  of 
the  people  constituting  it,  I  look  for  a  continued  and 
even  an  increased  prosperity  for  the  Salvadoreans,  since 
they  are  indubitably  among  the  Central  American 
nations  the  most  developed  and  the  most  intellectual. 
No  longer  subject  to  and  borne  down  by  an  immoral 
and  corrupt  Government,  and  freed  from  the  exactions 
of  hungry  office-seekers,  this  naturally  richly-endowed 
little  State  should  pursue  an  even  and  enviable  road  to 
prosperity,  upon  which  foreigners  will  be  heartily  wel- 
come to  journey. 


In  1895,  when  Mr.  Joseph  Chamberlain  was  Colonial 
Secretary,  a  circular  letter  was  addressed  to  all  British 
Consuls  of  the  British  Empire,  asking  for  information 
regarding  the  effect  of  foreign  competition  upon 
British  trade  abroad.  In  the  answers  received,  and 
subsequently  published  in  the  form  of  a  bulky  Blue 
Book,  some  critics  professed  to  see  much  comfort ; 
but  to  the  minds  of  others,  who  looked  more  deeply 
into  matters  and  judged  more  from  what  was  likely 
to  occur  than  what  had  actually  happened,  the  future 
appeared  gloomy  in  the  extreme.  To  enact  the  r61e 
of  Cassandra  is  never  an  agreeable  nor  a  profitable 
occupation  ;  but  upon  occasions  it  becomes  necessary 
to  sound  the  alarum,  if  only  to  awaken  the  slumberer 
from  his  too-long  repose,  and  remind  him  that  the 
world  is  marching  onwards  and  ever  onwards.  At  no 
time  has  this  been  more  imperative  than  the  present, 
when  British  trade  and  commerce,  British  influence 
and  British  prestige,  in  Central  America,  at  one  time 


CONCLUSION  319 

predominant,  are  threatened,  not  alone  with  super- 
session, but  with  practical  extinction.  This  is  no 
phantom  of  the  imagination,  nor  yet  any  unfair  ex- 
aggeration of  existing  conditions.  It  is  a  plain  and 
incontrovertible  fact,  which  anyone  travelling  through 
the  smaller  Latin-American  Republics  may  ascertain 
for  himself. 

The  decline  of  British  trade  in  these  countries  was 
clearly  foreshadowed  in  the  Blue  Book  above  referred 
to  ;  but  the  public,  with  some  few  exceptions,  com- 
placently closed  their  eyes,  the  Government  as  usual 
did  nothing  to  avert  the  threatened  evil,  and  the 
results  are  such  as  were  inevitable  under  the  circum- 
stances. The  Consular  reports  upon  these  States  as. 
they  are  issued  (when  they  are  issued  at  all)  tell  the 
tale  of  our  diminishing  trade,  and  of  the  slow  but  sure 
rise  of  our  competitors  to  the  position  of  dominance 
which  once  was  ours.  There  is  little  occasion  to 
criticize  the  figures  or  to  call  them  into  question ; 
it  may,  perhaps,  have  served  some  useful  purpose  to 
have  examined,  as  I  have  done  in  these  pages,  into 
the  principal  causes  which  have  helped  to  bring 
about  a  condition  of  things  which  is  gradually  going 
from  bad  to  worse. 

I  shall  be  abundantly  satisfied,  and  consider  myself 
sufficiently  recompensed  for  the  trouble  to  which  I 
have  put  myself  and  the  not  inconsiderable  expenses 
which  I  have  incurred  in  preparing  this  volume,  if  I 
can  awaken  some  interest  among  my  countrymen — 
upon  the  British  Government  I  do  not  for  an  instant 
expect  to  make  any  impression  whatever  —  to  the 
critical  position  in  which  our  national  trade  stands 
to-day  in  Latin- America  generally,  but  in  the  Republic 
of  Salvador  in  particular.  The  time  has  apparently 


320     SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

gone  by  when  British  trade  abroad  could  depend  at 
least  upon  the  countenance,  if  not  always  the  active 
support,  of  the  Ministry  of  the  day. 

In  the  days  of  William  Pitt  the  Elder  it  was  the 
proud  boast  of  our  rulers  that  "  not  a  gun  should  be 
fired  throughout  the  world  without  Britain  knowing 
why  "  ;  but  to-day  commercial  treaties  of  the  utmost 
import  to  British  merchants  are  entered  into,  new 
imposts  which  seriously  threaten  their  existing  trade 
are  levied,  and  favoured-nation  terms  to  their  most 
dangerous  commercial  rivals  are  granted,  without  the 
Home  Government  knowing  or  caring  one  pin's  head 
about  it.  Where  are  "  the  eyes  and  the  ears  "  of  the 
State  that  such  things  can  occur,  and  where  is  the 
patriotism  which  permits  of  them  occurring  ?  No 
British  Government  within  the  past  half-century  has 
as  much  as  inquired  about  the  status  of  British  trade 
in  La  tin- America,  nor  has  it  troubled  its  head  to  find 
out  whether  it  flourished  or  failed.  For  the  despicable 
purpose  of  currying  favour  with  our  keenest  rivals  in 
that  great  field — the  United  States — such  position  as 
we  still  occupy  in  that  portion  of  the  world  is  being 
recklessly  and  ignorantly  sacrificed.  How  this  crime 
— for  crime  it  assuredly  is — is  likely  to  be  perpetrated 
I  have  shown  conclusively  in  the  preceding  pages. 
Let  those  who  are  accused  answer  to  the  charges — if 
they  can  or  if  they  dare  ! 

July  31,  1911. 


INDEX 


ACADEMY,  Salvador,  41 
Acajutla,  9,  51,  52,  61,  62,  64,  65,  68, 
73,  93,  115,  146,  167,  197,  198,  204, 
222,   223,   226,  290,  291,  293,  295, 
299,  309 

Administration  of  Justice,  18 
Administrator,  Post-Office,  34 
Agricultural  Bank,  172 

machinery  and  implements,  107, 

147,  148 

Agriculture,   164,  228-243,    276,  285, 
288,  291,  303 

Minister  of,  18,  41,  229 

School  of,  29 

Sub-Secretary  of,  18,  42,  43,  44, 

47,  164 

Agronomy,  230 
Aguila,  Eugenio.  172 
Aguila,  Jose  Astua,  81,  82 
Agustin,  316 

Ahuachapan,   8,   9,    25,    66,    94,  141, 
179,  213,  234,  247,  266,  294-296 

Department  of,  28,  234,  290,  294- 

297 

Alegria,  11,  266,  313,  316 
Alfaro  Prudencio,  61,  65,  67,  71 
Allison  Manufacturing  Company,  200 
Alvarado,  Dr.  H.,  265 
Alvarado,  Jorge  de,  249,  256 
Alvarado,  Pedro  de,  256 
Alvarez,  Dr.  E.,  274 
Amapala,  Battle  of,  39 

Treaty  of,  72,  73,  75,  77,  81,  82 
Amaya,  General  Juan,  38,  281 
Angulo,  4 
Apaneca,  9,  295 

volcano,  4 
Aragon  Manuel,  11 

Araujo,  President  Manuel  Enrique,  15, 
17,  36,  40,  43,  47,  84,  85,  114,  246, 
273 

Araujo,  Dr.  Maximo,  316 
Area,  2 

Arce,  General  Manuel  Josi,  14 
Argentina,  129,  154,  230 
Arias  Celio,  39,  74 
Armenia,  290 
Army,  38,  64,  86-95,  224,  269 

strength  of,  87 

Assembly,  National,  15,  19,  38 
Ataco,  9 
Ateos,  51 

Atiquizaya,  25,  294 
Atuscatla,  5 
Austria,  147 


Avila,  Dr.  Arturo  Ramon,  36,  45,  46, 
116 

Baldwin  Locomotive  Works,  199 
Balsalobre,  Rev.  Dr.  E.  M.,  178 
Balsam,  108,  147,  216,  229,  241-243, 

288,  290 
Banco  Agricola,  172-174 

Occidental,  172 

Salvadoreno,  46,  176 
Bank,  London,  of  Mexico,  50 

London  and  South-Western  51,  53 

Mortgage,  177 

Nicaragua,  177 

Banks,  46,  50,  51,  53,  167,  170-177 
Bara,  General  Enrique,  23 
Barahona,  65 
Barberena,  Dr.  S.  L,  265 
Baron,  Dr.  Gustavo,  18,  42,  271 
Barracks,  87,  88,  92-95,  257,  274 
Barrancas  de  Jucuapa,  12 
Barrios,  General  Gerardo,  38,  274,  275 
Barrios,  General  Justo  Rufino,  15,  39 
Beans,  229,  240,  248,  276,  316 
Bedoya,  ix 

Beers  and  liquors,  158 
Berlin,  11,  316 
Bertrand,  President  Dr.,  84 
Bills  of  exchange,  167,  168,  170,  171 
Bloom,  David,  and  Co.,  172,  177 
Board  of  Trade,  British,  44,  125,  164 
Bocanegra,  Angel  M.,  81,  82 
Bogen,  Herr,  153 
Bolivia,  131,  132,  161 
Boots  and  shoes,  107 
Bracamonte,  Don  Eusebio,  18,  36,  42 
Bracamonte,  General,  38 
Brazil,  154,  235,  236,  240 
Breweries,  158 
Bridges,  12,  198 

British  Consul,  99-101,  105,  110-112, 
129,  319 

diplomacy,  120-126,  128,  129 

Foreign  Office,  96,  100,  101,  105, 
122-124 

Government,  98 

investments,  160 

Legation,  128 

manufacturers,  138,  139,  141 

Minister,  98,  139 

retail  houses,  137 

trade,  98,  99,  105,  123,  125,  127, 
129,  162,  164,  318,  319 

tradesmen,  168,  169 
Brown,  Jansen,  and  Co. ,  51 


321 


SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 


Bryce,  Right  Hon.  James,  123-126 
Bueron,  J.  L.,  10 
Bueron,  Juan,  11 
Bureau,  Information,  44 
Bustamente,  Dr.  Cecilio,  18,  36,  41 
Butters  Mines,  187-195 

Cabanas,  Department  of,  12,  28,  247, 

276,  278,  282-284,  306 
Cabinet,  18,  36,  42,  45 
Cables,  82,  226,  227 
Cacaguatique,  306 
Cacao,  239,  240,  291,  308 
Cafes,  158 
California,  316 
Campbell,  0.  S.,  105 
Canned  goods,  150 
Carcamo,  General  Teofilo,  79 
Garden,  Lionel  E.  G.,  97,  139 
Garden,  Mrs.,  98 
Carden,  Rev.  Lionel,  97 
Casino  Salvadoreno,  273,  274 
Castro,  R.,  Dr.   Don  Manuel,  18,  36, 

41 
Castro,  V.,  Dr.  Don  Jose  Antonio,  18, 

36,  42 

Cathedral,  257,  259 
Cattle  and  hides,  108,  230,  231,  286, 

295,  303 
Central  America,  13,  14,  32 

United,  14 
American  Federation,  14,  50,  67 

Peace  Conference,  33 
Penitenciaria,  21 
Cereals,  229,  285,  291,  295 
Chalatenango,  9,  11,  28,  266,  277,  278 
Department  of,  12,  28,  247,  248, 

276-278,  287,  297 

Chalchuapa,  25,  39, 179,  294,  295,  297 
Chamber  of  Commerce  (Salvador),  43, 

47,  164 

Chapeltique,  306 
Charities,  17,  265-267,  284 
Chatham,  Earl  of,  38 
Cheese,  277,  286 
Chemists,  157 
Chief  Magistrates,  16 
Chile,  161,  202 
Chilian  Mission,  88 
Chinameca,  9,  306,  307 

volcano,  4 
Choussy,  Felix,  230 
Churches,  vii,  viii,  150,  283,  308 
Cierra,  General,  69 
Cigars  and  cigarettes,  158,  236,    279, 

291 

Citala,  11,  276 
Civil  Code,  229 
Clubs,  88 

Glum,  Harold  D.,  44 
Coatepeque,  297 
Cocoa  machinery,  156 


Cocoanuts,  291 

Coffee,  108,  152,  216,   217,  219,  225, 
229,  234,   235,   248,  285,    288, 

290,  295,  302,  307,  311,  315 
estates,  302-304,  308,  316 
machinery,  150,  156 

Cojutepeque,  9,  19,  25,  94,  179,  213, 

236,  278 
Lake,  280 
Colleges,  28,  29 
Colon,  226 
Colombia,  210 
Columbus,  Christopher,  1 
Commander-in-Chief,  16 
Commerce,  Chamber  of  (Salvador),  43, 

47 
Commercial  travellers,  136,  141,  156, 

157 
treaties,  109,  112,  124,  126,  127, 

320 

Commission,  Mexican,  97 
Commissioners,  rural,  229 
Commons,  House  of,  38 
Conchagua  volcano,  4 
Conference,   Central  American  Peace, 

33,  118,  119 
Hague,  46 

Conflagrations,  150,  151 
Congress,  National,  16,  18,  33,  34,  47, 

53 

Spanish -American,  46 
Constitution,  15,  38,  259,  281 
Constitutional  Convention,  14 
Consular  invoices,  167 
regulations,  101-105 
reports,  98-100 
Consul,  British,  99-101,  105,  110-112, 

129,  319 

-General,  Salvador,  45 
United  States,  44 
Liverpool,  48 
Consuls,  Salvadorean,  102-105 

United  States,  112 
Conventions,  14,  30 
Cordilleras,  2 
Corinto,  65,  68,  73 
Corn,  240,  248,  276,  282,  288,  311 
Coronation  of  H.M.  George  V.,  mission 

to,  46,  47 

Corpeno,  J.  Dolo,  177 
Corranza,  Dr.  don  Teodosio,  18,  36,  41 
Cosieguina  volcano,  4 
Costa   Rica,    14,    49,  50,  80,  98,  136, 
140,   143,  152,  161,  179,  189,   212, 
214,  223,  226,  249 
Cost  of  living,  261,  262,  313 
Costume,  native,  244 
Cotton,  107,  146,  216,  229,  232,  244, 

291,  295 
goods,  134 
manufactures,  162 
mills,  163 


INDEX 


323 


Council  of  Foreign  Bondholders,  54,  55 

of  Health,  18,  270 
Courtade,  John  B.,  219 
Court  of  Justice,  Central  America,  74, 

76,  79-83 
Courts,  Circuit,  19 

District,  19 

Minor,  19 

Supreme,  19,  257 
Credit  system,  166,  169-171 
Criminal  Law,  19 
Cristales,  General,  69 
Cuba,  97,  121,  154,  237 
Cuscatlan,    Department    of,   28,    234, 
247,  248,  256,  276,  278,  279,   281, 
282,  287,  300 

Customs,  50,   51,  54,  58,  59,  166-169, 
210,  224 

duties,  159 

Union,  123 
Cyanide  process,  187-195 

Dardano,  Donna  Teresa,  47 
Da vila,  President,  74,  78,  79 
Dawson,  Samuel  C.,  178 
Debt,  Foreign,  49,  50,  51,  52,  55 

Public,  57 

Decree,  Government,  70 
Deficit,  59,  60 
Deininger,  Fedor,  153,  225 
Delgado,  Dr.  Manuel,  73 
Departments,  15,  16,  28,  235,  247,  271 

Police,  25 
Deputies,  15 

National  Chamber  of,  15 
Designates,  Presidential,  38 
Diaz,  Porfirio,  75 
Diaz,  Senora  J.  B.  de,  236,  280 
Diplomacy,  British,  120,  121,  122,  123, 

124,  125,  126,  128,  129 
Director- General  of  Police,  23 
Discovery  of  Salvador,  1 
Diseases,  267,  268,  269,  270,  271,  272 
Distilleries,  276,  289 
District  Courts,  19 
Divisadero  Mines,  193 
Dolores,  282 
Domestic  life,  244,  245 

servants,  261,  262,  263 
Dreadnoughts,  128 
Drews,  F.,  172 

Drugs  and  medicines,  107,  157 
Duenas,  Dr.  Don   Francisco,    18,   36, 

40,  47 

Duenas,  Don  Miguel,  18,  36,  42,  47, 164 
Duenas,  President  Dr.,  38 
Duke,  Mauricio,  172 
Duke,  J.  Mauricio,  172 
Dunlop,  R.  C.,  182,  183 

Earthquakes,  251,  252,  253,  254,  255 
Ecuador,  115,  161 


Education,  27,  28,  29,  30,  230,  272, 
314,  315 

Board  of,  26 

Free,  26 

Minister  of,  26,  42,  266 
Educational  establishments,  264,  265 
Elections,  17 
Electric  light,  32 
El  Diario  de  Salvador,  70 
El  Tigre,  4 

El  Triunfo,  11,  167,  226,  316 
El  Viego  volcano,  4 
Ereguaiqum,  315 
Eruptions,  5,  7 
Escalon,  Pedro  Jose,  15 
Escobar,  Francisco,  265 
Estanzuelas,  315 
Esteves,  Captain  A.,  224 
Estrada,  General,  68 
Europe,  21,  29 

Exchange,  169,  170,  172,  209,  210 
Executive,  15,  16 
Expenditures,  30,  55,  56,  57,  58,  59,  60 

War  and  Marine,  95 
Export  trade,  133 
Exports  and  imports,  58,  59,  105,  106, 

107,  108,  144,  162 
Ezeta,  General  Carlos,  15,  40 

Fairs,  278,  279,  282,  307 

Fawcett,  Preston  and  Co.,  Ltd.,  153, 

155 

Federal  Republic,  14 
Federation,  Central  American,  14,  67, 

301,  310 

Felica  volcano,  4 
Figueroa,  General  Fernando,  4,  8,  15, 

17,  31,  36,  37,  38,  39,  40,  61,  62,  63, 

64,  65,  66,  69,  73,  78,  79,  87,  142, 

151,  281 

Filibusters,  North  American,  vi,  61 
Filisola,  General,  13 
Filter  Butters,  190-194 
Finance,  Minister  of,  18,  117 
Sub- Secretary  of,  18,  43 
Finances,  49 

railway,  55 
Fire  apparatus,  150,  151 

brigade,  151 
Fish,  312,  313 
Flour,  107 
Fonseca,  Bay  of,  1,  2,  3,  9,  286,  309, 

311,  312 
Forces,  16 
Foreign  Affairs,  Minister  of,  18,  76, 112 

Sub- Secretary  of,  18,  41 
Foreigners,  284,  313 
Foreign  loans,  49,  50,  51,  52,  53,  54, 

55,  57,  115 
Foreign  Office,  British,  96,  100,  101, 

105,  122,  123,  124 
Foreign  trade,  106 


SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 


France,  104,  105,  107,  108,  135,  146, 

147,  151 

Free  Trade,  123,  132,  133 
French  trade,  146 
Fruits,  285,  291,  295,  299,  307,  311 

Gainza,  ix 

Gallegos,  Salvador,  81,  82 

Garcia,  Dr.  A.,  265 

Gavidia,  Francisco,  265 

Geology,  181,  183 

German  trade,  108,  109,  128,  129,  130, 
131,  132,  133,  134,  135,  137-139, 
141,  142,  143,  144,  145,  146,  147, 
152,  153,  162,  168 

Germany,  104,  105,  106, 107,  108,  109, 
144,  147 

Gonzalez,  Dr.  D.,  265 

Gonzalez,  Dr.  Rodolfo  B.,  271 

Gonzalez,  Marshal  Santiago,  38,  39 

Goods,  British,  133, 134, 135,  137,  139 

Goodyear,  Professor,  7 

Gordon,  John,  and  Co.,  152,  156 

Gotera,  310,  311 

Government,  14,  15,  17,  21,  23,  26,  32 

British,  98 
Governors,  16 

Great  Britain,  31 

Grey,  Sir  Edward,  Bart.,  100,  105 

Guarumal,  9 

Guascoran  River,  8 

Guatemala,  viii,  4,  5,  14,  15,  30,  38, 
48,  50,  67,  74,  80,  81,  82,  83,  96, 
97,  98,  119,  121,  129,  131,  138,  140, 
143,  145,  152,  161,  172,  179,  180, 
202,  212,  214,  218,  245,  248,  249, 
295,  297 

Guatemala,  kingdom  of,  viii 

Guerrero,  Dr.  G.  G.,  47 

Guirola,  Don  Angel,  289 

Guirola  D.,  Don  Rafael,  18,  36,  40, 
41,  172 

Guthrie,  0.  S.  S.,  164 

Gutierrez,  General  Rafael,  15 

Guzman,  Dr.  D.  J. ,  265 

Hague  Conference,  46 

Hamburg,  147,  168,  170,  219 

Hardware,  135,  145 

Harlan,  Hollingsworth  Company,  200 

Havana,  10,  97 

Havre,  219 

Health,  Council  of,  18,  270 

Heimke,  Major  W.,  116,  117 

Heimke,  Mrs.,  117 

Hemmeler  Guillermo,  176 

Henequen,  229 

Hernandes,  General  Gregorio,  24 

Hidalgo,  13 

High  Court  of  Justice,  42 

Hill,  Lieutenant,  5 

Hinds,  John  W.,  203 


Hispaniola,  1 

Hogs,  231 

Honduras,  3,  14,  38,  49,  50,  61,  62,  67, 
68,  71,  72,  74,  75,  76,  77,  78,  80,  82, 
83,  84,  85,  96,  97,  98.  118,  119,  121, 
129,  161,  170,  172,  179,  181,  212, 
214,  276,  282,  295,  297,  306,  310, 
311 

Honduras,  war  with,  38,  39,  40,  74 

Hooper,  A.  H.,  226,  227 

Hospicio  Guirola,  289 

Hospitality,  native,  273,  284 

Hospitals,  17,  265  268,  269,  271,  272, 
289 

Hotels,  6,  236,  261,  280,  291,  293 

House  of  Commons,  38 

Hydrographic  Office,  U.S.A.,  287 

Ilobasco  city,  282 

volcano,  279 
Ilopango,  Lake,  4,  5,  6,  7,  9,  10,  280, 

300 
Implements,    Agricultural,    107,    147, 

148 
Imports  and  Exports,  58,  59,  105,  106, 

107,  108,  144,  162,  163 
Independence,  13,  249 
India,  154 
Industry  (Fomento),  Minister  of,  18 

Sub-Secretary,  18 
Information  Bureau,  44 
Instruction,  Military,  87,  88,  89 

Minister  of,  18,  26 

Public,  18,  26 

Sub-Secretary,  18,  26,  42 
Intercontinental  Railway  Commission, 

212 

Interior,  Minister  of,  18,  23 
Interior,  Sub- Secretary,  18 
Investments,  United  States,  159,  160, 
161 

British,  160 
Indigo,  108,  232,  233,  237,  282,  283, 

285,  288,  302,  307 
Iron  and  Steel  Trades,  135 
Italy,  147 

Iturbide,  Agustin  VIII.,  13,  14 
Izalco  City,  290 

District,  230 

volcano,  4,  248 

Jamaica,  235,  240,  242 

Jerez,  30 

Jerusalen,  305 

Jiboa,  River,  6,  8 

Jiquilisco,  Bay  of,  232,  313,  315 

Jocoro,  9 

Jucuapa,  9,  12,  36,  313,  315 

volcano,  315 
Judice,  Miguel,  172 
Judicial,  15 
Justice,  Administration  of,  18 


INDEX 


325 


Justice  and  Beneficence,  Minister  of,  18 

Sub-Secretary  of,  18,  42 
Justices,  19 

Junta,  Provisional,  viii,  ix 
Jutiapa,  282 

Keilhauer,  Rene,  213,  214 
Keith,  Minor  C.,  214,  215 
Kelly,  Mark  Jamestown,  45,  51,  53, 

114,    115,   116,   151,  164,  201,  203, 

207,  211 

Kinnon,  Lieutenant,  287 
Kuox,  Philander,  122,  126 
Kosmos  Company,  219 

Labour,  311 

La  Ceiba,  51,  304 

Lagos,  Ingeniero  Jose  Maria    Peralta, 

18,  36,  42 
Laguna  Finca,  153 
La  Libertad,  1,  9,  11,  28,  32,  58,  146, 

167,    220,   223-227,   232,   234,  248, 

271,  276,  287-290,  297,  300 
Lamport  and  Holt,  219 
Lancaster  C.  and  W.  Co.,  200 
Land  Law,  228,  229 
La  Paz,  Department  of,  28,  234,  247, 

248,  278,  284,  287,  300,  301,  305 
Latin- American  trade,  120 
Latin  Republics,  v,  vii,  viii,  x 
La  Union,  8,  9,  24,  25,  28,  58,  69,  167, 

202,  213,   216-220,  226,    266,  286, 

309,  311 
La  Union  Department,   12,  28,   306, 

311-313 

Law,  Criminal,  19 
Lazarettos,  270 
Lefferts,  Miss  Anne  E.,  98 
Lefferts,  John,  98 
Legal  procedure,  19 
Legation,  British,  97,  128 

United  States,  16,  117,  127 
Legislative,  15 
Leiva,  Nicolas,  48 
Leiva,  General  Pcnciano,  39,  74 
Lempa  River,  3,  11,  232,  276,  314 
Ley  land  Line,  219 
Liberals,  viii,  ix 
Limon,  Port  of,  136 
Linares,  11 

Liquors  and  beers,  158,  159 
Liverpool  Consul  for  Salvador,  48 
Llanos.  Colonel  Armando,  88 
Loans, 'foreign,  49,  50,  51,  52,  53,  54, 

55,  57,  115 
London,  168,  170 
Lopez,  Dr.  Fernando,  38 
Lumber,  108 

Machinery,  135,  151 

agricultural,  107,  147,  148 
mining,  182,  189,  190 


Madriz,  Jose,  81,  82 
Maida,  ix 

Maize,  229,  232,  240,  316 
Manufacturers,  British,  138,  139,  141 
native,  163,  276,  277,    285,   291, 

307,  311,  312 
Marine,  War  and,  18 
Markets,  292,  299 
Marriages,  27 
Martin,  Ernesto,  81,  82 
Mason,  Marcus,  and  Co.,  152 
Mathies,  C.  G.,  176 
Maximilian,  10 
Medical  College,  28 
Medicines  and  drugs,  107,  157 
Medina,  General,  39,  74 
Mejia,  Federico,  117 
Melendez,  Carlos,  38 
Mencia,  Manuel  Lopez,  56 
Menendez,  General  F.,  15,  39 
Mercedes,  12 

Mercenaries,  United  States,  vi 
Mercury,  295 
Metapan,  9,  11,  297,  299 
Mexican  Commission,  97 
Mexico,  vi,  viii,  ix,  4,  10,  13,  21,  30, 

50,  62,  75,  97,  116,  132,  143,  160, 

161,  231,  236,  245,  278 
Michaelson,  Fedor,  226,  227 
Militia,  38 

Miller,  J.  Imbrie,  287 
Mine  production,  186 
Miners,  native,  184,  195 
Mines  in  operation,  185 
Mining,  9,  181-195 
Minister  of  Education,  26,  42,  266 
of  Finance,  18,  117 
of  War,  86 
Ministry,  18 
Minor  courts,  19 
Miranda,  General,  74 
Mission  to  Coronation,  H.M.  George  V., 

46,  47 

Momotombo  volcano,  4 
Monarchy,  Spanish,  vii,  viii 
Moncagua,  306 
Monroe  Doctrine,  130 
Monuments,  public,  274,  275 
Morales,  Don  Agustin,  127 
Morazan   Department,    28,    247,    306, 

310,  311 
Morazan,    General  Francisco,   14,   15, 

275,  310 
Morelia,  13 

Morgan,  J.  Pierpont,  161 
Mortality,  268 
Mortgage  Bank,  177 
Municipalities,  16,  17 
Municipal  Treasury,  18 

Nahuizalco,  290 

National  Assembly,  15,  19,  38 


326    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 


National  Bank,  172,  174,  175,  176 
National  Chamber  of  Deputies,  15 

Congress,  33,  44,  47,  53 
National  Institute,  265 
Library,  265 
Palace,  274 
Theatre,  151,  257,  260,  261,  263, 

264,  274 
National  University,  22,  30,  42,   45, 

265 
Native  manufacturers,  163,  276,  277 

types,  244 
New  San  Salvador  (Santa  Tecla),  9,  25, 

46,  93 

New  York,  168,  170 
Nicaragua,  4,  14,  15,  50,  61,  67,  68, 
71,  72,  73,  74,  75,  77,  96,  140, 
172,  179,  180,  212,  214,  249 
war  with,  40 
Nicaraguan  Navy,  73 
North  American  Filibusters,  vi,  61 

Occidental  Bank,  172 
Olocuilta,  300 
Opico,  9,  287 
Opposition,  Spanish,  vi 
Otaco,  295 

Ottley,  Miss  Lucy,  97 
Ozatlan,  315 

Pacas,  Dr.  Jose  Rosa,  117 

Pacific  Mail  Steamship  Company,  129 

Steamship  Navigation   Company, 

218,  219 

Palacio  Nacional,  277 
Palmer,  Frederick,  163 
Palomo,  Tomas,  G.,  268 
Pamphlets  in  Spanish,  147 
Panama,  136,  172,  223,  226 

Canal,  159 

Railroad,  136 

Pan-American  Bureau,  113 
Railway,  136,  214 
Parcels  Post,  31 

Parks,  public,  258,  259,  283,  289 
Parras  Lempa,  35 
Pasaquina,  Battle  of,  39 
Paz,  River,  1,  8 
Peace  Conference,   Central  American, 

33,  118,  119,  214 
Peasants,  243-246 
Penitenciaria,  Central,  21 

Santa  Ana,  22 
Peralta,  Don  Jose  Maria,  36 
Peralta,  Senorita  Maria,  36 
Peru,  4,  21,  131,  132,  202 
Pharmacy  Law,  157 
Pinto,  Alberto,  12 
Pinto,  Miguel,  178 
Pitt,  William,  38 
Planters  and  trade,  209,  210 
Police,  18,  23-25 


Police,  Director-General  of,  23 

superior  officers,  23 
Polytechnic,  88-90 

Population,  2,  4,  217,  224,  244,  246, 
257,  277,  279,  283,  289,  295,  301, 
309,  311,  314,  315,  316 
Portillo,  A.  R.,  177 
Port  Limon,  136 
Ports,  11,  32,  216,  226,  271 
Postal  Administrator,  35 

agencies,  35 

Convention,  31 

service,  30,  31,  33,  34,  35 
Poste  Restante,  34 
Post  Office,  18,  30,  33-35 

British,  33 

Posts,  Department  of,  30 
Potatoes,  240 
Potteries,  277 
Poultry,  231 
Poverty,  absence  of,  277 
Presa  General,  69 
Presidential  Designate,  38 
President  M.   E.   Araujo,  15,  17,  36, 

40,  43,  47,  84,  85,  114,  246,  273 
Presidents,  14-17 
Press,  177-180,  227 

Association,  Central  American,  179 
Prieto,  Don  Carlos  G.,  18,  36,  43 
Printing  establishment,  18 
Prisons,  20 
Procedure,  legal,  19 
Proclamation  to  people,  62  "63 
Progreso,  El,  290 

Prosperity,  general,  277,  295,  296,  299 
Protection,  132 
Provisional  Junta,  viii,  ix 
Public  Credit,  Minister  of,  18 

Sub-Secretary,  18 
Public  Debt,  57 

Public  Instruction,  Minister  of,  18,  26 
Sub-Secretary  of,  18,  26,  42 

parks,  258,  259,  283,  289 

Works,  Sub-Secretary  of,  42 
Puerto  Cortes,  68 

Quezaltepeque,  287 

volcano,  288 
Quinonez,  Dr.  A.,  265 
Quiros,  Guillermo,  11 

Race,  Spanish,  v 

Railways,  new,  212-215,  286,  287,  309 

Railway  subsidy,  52,  54 

finance,  55 

Regol^do,  General  Tomas,  15,  67 
Religion,  28,  259 
Religious  instruction,  28 
Republic,  Federal,  14 
Republics,  Latin,  v,  vii,  viii,  x 
Restaurants,  158 

Revenue  and  expenditure,  55,  56,  57, 
58,  59.  69,  236,  237 


INDEX 


327 


Revolution,  63 

French,  viii 

Rice,  108,  229,  248,  276,  282,  288 
Rice  machinery,  156 
Rivas,  Manuel,  61,  63,  64 
Rivas,  R.  Mayorga,  177 
Roads,  8,  9,  10,  11,  12,  299,  303,  304 
Roman  Catholics,  259 
Roosevelt,  President,  117,  118,  121 
Rosales,  Don  Jose,  266 
Rozeuraad,  C.,  164 
Rubber,  108,  229,  238,  239 
Rum,  236 

Sabana  Grande,  39 
Sailing  vessels,  109 
Saliua  Cruz,  204,  205,  226,  227 
Salvador  Chamber  of  Commerce  (Lon- 
don), 115 
invasion  of,  61-64 
Railway,  9,   35,    50,    52,  54,   61, 
114,   115,    136,    164,    196-215, 
223,  225,  299,  310 
Salvador,  ss.,  201,  204-206,  225 
Sanatoriums,  267,  268 
San  Alejo,  311 
San  Buena  Ventura,  315 
San  Carlos,  310 
San  Francisco,  276 
San  Ignacio,  276 
San  Isidro,  282 
San  Jacinto,  6 
San  Jose,  136 

San  Miguel,  9,  19,  24,  25,  34,  45,  94, 
176,   179,    202,    213,  232, 
266,  286,  306,  309,  310 
Department  of,  12,  247,  282, 
284,  287,  306-310,  311,  313 
River,  3,  232 
volcano,  4 
San  Pedro,  378 

Mazahuat,  300,  305 
Nonualco,  270,  300,  304 
San  Rafael,  276,  278,  301 
San  Salvador  (capital),  9,  21,  24,  26, 
28,  32,  51,  52,  141, 150-152, 
176,  197,  198,225,249-270, 
273,  274,  286,  309 
Department  of,  28,  234,  247, 

248,  276,  278,  287,  300 
volcano,  4,  248,  281 
San  Vicente  volcano,  4 
Santa  Ana,  9,  11,  19,  24,  25,  28,  32, 
34,  51,  52,  64,  90,  93,  95,  141, 
176,  179,    197,  198,    202,   213 
215,  266,  297-299 
Barbara,  3'9 

Department  of,  12,  28,  234,  247, 
270,  276,  287-290,  294,  297-299 
Penitenciaria,  22 
volcano,  3,  4,  281 
Santa  Elena,  313,  315 


Santa  Maria  Ostuma,  304 
Santa  Rosa,  9,  311 

Santa  Tecla  (Nueva  San  Salvador),  9, 
25,  46,  93,  179,  225,  257,  266,  237, 
289,  289,  290 
Santiago  de  Maria,  11 

Nonualco,  300 
San  Vicente,  9,  25,  28,  38,  213,  256, 

266,  286,  309 
Department,  29,  39,  40,  234,  240, 

245,  247,  278,  300,  301,  313 
Sapotitan,  288 
Scenery,  1 
Scherzer,  A.  Z.,  51 
Schlensz,  R.,  176 
School  for  Sergeants   and   Corporals, 

88 

School  of  Agriculture,  29 
Schools,  27,  28,  29,  283,  314 
Schwerin,  H.  T.,  129 
Secretaries  of  State,  18 
Secretary  of  State  (British),  99,  100, 

105    ' 

Sensunapan  River,  291 
Sensuntepeque,  9,  141,  279,  292,  283 
Service,  Postal,  30,  31 
Sesori,  306 
Sheep,  230,  231 
Sherrill,  Charles  H.,  127 
Shippers,  advice  to,  44 
Shipping,  109,  129,  146,  187,  216,  218, 

219,  220 

Siege,  state  of,  69 

Sitio  del  Nino,  9,  35,  51,  93,  197,  198 
Smallpox,  270 
Smoked  meat,  158 

fish,  158 

Social  customs,  158 
Sociedad,  310 
Societies,  264 

Sonsonate,  3,  9,  24,  25,  28,  34,  51,  58, 
61,  66,  141,  179,  197,  198,  230, 
266,  290-294,  295,  297 
Department  of,  28,  234,  240,  245, 

247,  288,  290,  294,  297 
Soriano,  Andres,  11 
Spain,  v,  vi,  vii,  viii,  1,  13,  147 

war  with,  v,  vii 

Spanish- American  University,  37 
Congress,  46 


ion,  vn 
race,  v 

Spencer,  C.  T.  S.,  200,  201,  212,  310 
Sport,  231 
Squier,  E.  G.,  127 
State,  Ministers  of,  18 
of  siege,  69 
Sub-Secretaries  of,  18 
Statistics,  Trade,  105,  106,  107,  108 
Steamships,  109,  129,  216,  218,  219, 

220 
Stewart,  Charles,  202 


328    SALVADOR  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 


Sub-Secretaries  of  State,  18 
Subsidy,  railway,  52,  54 
Suchitote,  279 

Sugar,  108,  225,  229,  232,  235,  236, 
248,  285,288,  295,  307,  311,  316 
machinery,  150,  152-155,  235 
Superior  officers  of  police,  23 
Supreme  Court,  18 
Surgical  College,  29 
Swan,  Hunter,  and  Co.,  204,  205 
Symons,  G.  T.,  203 

Tabanco,  181 
Taxation,  236 
Teaching  staff,  28 
Tecapa,  9 

volcano,  4 
Tecapan,  316 
Tehuantepec  Railway,  136,  204,  205, 

206 

Tejutepeque,  282 
Tejutla,  276 

Telegraph  and  telephones,  18,  31 ,  297 
Telegraphy,  wireless,  32 
Tellez,  J.  M.  L.,  177 
Temperatures,  250,  256 
Teotepeque,  287 
Texistepeque,  297 
Textiles,  134,  145,  162 
Theatre,  National,  151,  257,  260,  261, 

263,  264 
Theatres,  291 
Timber,  240,  241,  285,  288,  291,  307, 

312 
Tobacco,  108,  158,  236,  237,  238,  248, 

279,  280,  285,  295,  316 
Toledo,  General  Salvador,  68 
Tonacatepeque,  9 
Trade,  British,  98,  99,  105,  128,  125, 

127,  129 
foreign,  106    • 
German,  108,  109 
Latin-American,  120 
statistics,  105,  106,  107,  108 
Trading  companies,  137,  138 
Tramways,  160 
Transportation,  196-215 
Treasury,  Municipal,  18 
Treaties  of  commerce,  109,   112,  124, 

126,  127,  320 
Triana,  S.  Perez,  46 
Triunfo,  11,  167,  226,  316 
Troops,  86,  87,  88 
Tuberculosis,  267,  268 
Types,  native,  244,  245 

Ucleo,  Alberto,  81,  82 
Uluazapa,  306 

United  Fruit  Company,  214,  218 
Central  America,  14 


United  States  vi,  5, 10,  20,  21,  23,  27, 
29,44,  62,  75,  96,  103,  104, 
105,    106,   107,    108,    109, 
110,    111,    112,    117,    122, 
123,    124,    126,    127,     128 
144,  145,  151,  158,  159 
capital,  159,  160,  161 
Consul-General,  44,  116 
Consuls,  112 
Legation,  116,  117,  127 
mercenaries.,  vi 
steel,  135,  136 
trade,  145,  146,  147 
Universities,  28,  29,  314 
University,  National,  29,  30,  42,  45 

Spanish -American,  37 
Uriate,  Juan  R.,  178 
Uruguay,  230 
Usulutan  City,  213,  301,  314,  315 

Department  of,  12,  25,  247,  284, 

306,  313-316 
volcano,  4 

Vaccination,  direction  of,  18,  270,  271 

Valladolid,  13 

Vice-Presidents,  16 

Viceroys,  Spanish,  vii,  viii 

Victoria,  282 

Vischer,  Alfred,  87 

Volcanoes,  1,  2,  4,  248,  251,  252,  256, 
279,  280,  281,  284,  285,  288,  294, 
297,  298,  304,  307,  311,  313 

Walsh,  George  S.,  203 

War  and  Marine  Sub-Secretary,  18 

with  Spain,  v,  vii 
Weavers,  native,  163 
Wheat,  229,  240,  276 
Wines  and  spirits,  158,  159 
Wireless  telegraphy,  32 
Woods,  precious,  240,  241 
Woollens,  145,  163,  295 

Xatruch,  General,  74 

Yams,  240 
Yarns,  135 
Yellow  Fever,  272 
Yudice,  Dr.  Federico,  272 

Zacapa,  30,  215 

Zacatecoluca,  9,  25,  223,  266,  300,  301, 

303,  304 
volcano,  4 

Zaldivar,  Dr.  Rafael,  39,  46 
Zapote  Barracks,  88,  92,  274 
Zaragosa,  225 
Zclaya,  General  Jose"   Santos,  14,   15, 

56,61,62,  67,  68,71,  72,73,74,78, 

79 


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